Airy disk
Light's blurred spot
An Airy disk is the central bright spot in the diffraction pattern produced when light passes through a circular aperture, such as a telescope or camera lens.
Named after astronomer George Biddell Airy, it represents the fundamental limit of optical resolution—no lens can focus light to a point smaller than its Airy disk.
The pattern includes fainter concentric rings around the bright center.
- diffractionWaves spreading past obstacles
- opticsScience of illumination
- optical systemArranged elements controlling light
- apertureAdjustable optical inlet
- lensLight-focusing curved glass
telescope · microscope · resolution · angular resolution · light · rings · pattern · blur · focus · circular · wavefront · interference · point source · stellar · concentric · pupil · imaging · sharpness