Final answer:
The clarity and detail with which the smallest of objects can be recorded is defined by the system's resolution. In both biology and astronomy, resolution is key in observing and studying small and distant features with precision.
Step-by-step explanation:
The accuracy and clarity with which an imaging system can record the smallest of objects is defined by its resolution. Resolution is the minimum distance between two separable objects that allows them to be seen as distinct entities. It also relates to the size of the smallest feature that can be clearly viewed in the image. Factors such as distance, magnification, and angular separation based on the Rayleigh criterion are crucial in determining the resolving power of imaging instruments, like telescopes and microscopes.
For example, in biology laboratories, the use of microscopes often involves discussions around resolution. Microscopes, especially the oil immersion lenses, provide a high magnification of up to 1000 times with a resolution of 0.2 µm. However, due to limitations imposed by diffraction, there is a practical resolution limit to how small an object can be observed clearly. In astronomy, astronomers crave high-resolution telescopes to distinguish fine details of celestial bodies, such as the patterns of Jupiter's weather or the dynamics of distant galaxies.