Resolving Power
The ability of an optical instrument or grating to separate and distinguish two closely spaced point objects or adjacent spectral wavelengths.
Governing formula
R = λ / Δλ = N m (Grating), RP = 1 / Δθ
SI unit
Dimensionless
In depth
Higher resolving power allows finer detail separation. Limited fundamentally by wave diffraction at the instrument's aperture.
Examples in the real world
A astronomical telescope with a large primary mirror distinguishing close binary star pairs that appear as a single smudge in smaller scopes.