Bigger distances between antennas, sharper images

Scientists can 'build' a virtual telescope by combining observations from several individual telescopes, using a technique called interferometry. The combined observation has an angular resolution (image detail) the same as one giant telescope with a diameter corresponding to the biggest distance between any two telescopes. The bigger the distance, the more detailed the image. With individual telescopes that can be spaced hundreds or even thousands of kilometres apart, it can make extremely detailed images.

This animation was originally produced for an ESO Chasing Starlight episode on the sharpest ground-based observations yet.