Is a telescope's resolving power simply a function of it's light collecting ability?

[mzatanoskas]

I read that a telescope's three main attributes were:

 

1. it's light collecting power

 

2. it's resolving power

 

3. it's magnification power

 

The magnification power can be changed independently of the light collecting power by using different eyepieces with different focal lengths. But the resolving power is dependent on the diameter of the primary mirror/lens and is basically just a function of the light collecting power, no?

 

So you could better summarise a telescope's attributes as:

 

1. light collecting power (from which resolving power is derived)

 

2. magnification power

 

Just trying to clarify in my head as always.

[ajb]

The main attribute is light collecting power. This is the important thing. Magnification is secondary.