Laser guide stars in action
This image shows three of the four Unit Telescopes that together make up ESO's Very Large Telescope. One of the Unit Telescope is seen here shooting laser guide stars up into the sky to produce four artificial stars. These artificial stars allow astronomers to constantly measure the turbulence in the atmosphere, and adjust the mirrors inside the telescope to counteract this turbulence. This technique is called adaptive optics.
Credit:ESO/P. Horálek
About the Image
Id: | 2017_11_18_upr_IMG_3321-laser-ok-CC |
Type: | Photographic |
Release date: | 21 February 2018, 11:24 |
Size: | 5472 x 3648 px |
About the Object
Name: | Laser Guide Star, Very Large Telescope |
Type: | Unspecified : Technology : Observatory : Telescope |
Category: | Paranal |
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