Slider comparison image of the Tarantula Nebula with and without adaptive optics

These images of the dramatic star formation region 30 Doradus, also known as the Tarantula Nebula, were created from mosaics of images taken using the HAWK-I instrument with (left) and without (right) the Adaptive Optics Facility of ESO’s Very Large Telescope in Chile being in use. The stars are significantly sharper with adaptive optics than without, and fainter stars can be seen.

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ESO