In a simple convex lens when object is placed at principal focus, we can not see the image because it is at infinity. Then how can we see the final image formed by an astronomical telescope which also lies at infinity?
[Physics] Can we see an image formed at infinity
geometric-opticslensesoptics
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Best Answer
You cannot see an image formed at infinity unless you go there to look at it. An infinite conjugate image is the same thing as collimated light, or afocal. The rays from a particular field point are parallel to each other rather than converging or diverging as they would for a real or virtual image respectively. The only way you can SEE an image in collimated light is to use a lens to FORM that image. Your eye is a good example of this. A typical telescope consiste of an objective lens and an eyepiece lens. The Objective lens has a long focal length and forms a real image in the front focal plane of the eyepiece. Since that image is in the front focal plane of the eyepiece, the light is collimated coming out of the eyepiece (image at infinity). But when you place your eye behind the eyepiece, the lens in your eye forms a real image onto your retina. Hence, you can now see that image because your eye lens has converted it to a real, and finite, image.