February – Lasers shine at Paranal

In this eye-catching image, the most powerful laser guide star system in the world sees first light at ESO’s Paranal Observatory. The 4 Laser Guide Star Facility uses four 22-watt laser beams to cause sodium atoms in the upper atmosphere to glow, making them appear just like real stars in the majestic Chilean skies. These artificial stars allow the adaptive optics systems to compensate for the blurring caused by the Earth’s atmosphere, so the telescope can capture sharper images.

Credit:

ESO/F. Kamphues

About the Calendar

Id:cal201802
Year:2018
Month:2

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