Which optical effect limited the portability of early astrolabes?

💡 Explanation

The *diffraction* of light, rather than lens quality, caused uncertainty in the angular measurement from very small astrolabes, because the Airy disk size became comparable to graduations; therefore, larger, less portable astrolabes were required, rather than easily pocketable versions.

• Which limitation affected sextant accuracy when measuring celestial bodies from a rolling 18th-century ship?
• Which weathering outcome increases when moisture penetrates ancient stone walls?
• Which astronomical calculation was significantly simplified using the 'universal plate' on an astrolabe?
• Which astronomical effect complicates measuring star positions using a medieval astrolabe at different locations?
• Which agricultural innovation becomes impossible if contour terracing collapses?
• Which consequence occurred from improved algebraic methods used during astrolabe fabrication?