optical aberrations

Optical aberrations are flaws in how lenses or mirrors focus light, which can distort images. They occur when light rays don't converge at a single point, leading to issues like blurriness, color fringing, or distorted shapes. Common types include spherical aberration (where light rays from the edge focus differently than those from the center) and chromatic aberration (which causes colors to spread apart). These imperfections can affect the clarity and quality of photographs, microscopes, and telescopes, impacting how we see and capture images.