The comet and the laser

Photograph of the comet tail from Paranal, after the comet itself had set, with the laser guide star system above Yepun (Unit Telescope 4) in the foreground. The laser is used to produce a fake 'star' on the sky to allow the changing atmosphere to be corrected. It works by making sodium atoms high in the atmosphere glow - these atoms may have originally come from comets like McNaught. Photo by Emmanuel Jehin, ESO

Credit:

Emmanuel Jehin/ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0707d
Type:Photographic
Release date:23 February 2007
Related releases:eso0707
Size:1150 x 1529 px

About the Object

Name:Comet McNaught, Very Large Telescope
Type:Unspecified : Technology : Observatory : Telescope
Solar System : Interplanetary Body : Comet : Tail
Category:Paranal
Solar System

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