New Adaptive Optics Technique Demonstrated

Blob · #1 (**permalink**) 03-April-2007, 05:14 PM

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Blurry images of space could soon be a thing of the past. Astronomers at the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) have obtained their first corrected pictures of space with the Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics Demonstrator (MAD).
The MAD device allowed the scientists to obtain corrected (non-blurred) images of atmospheric turbulence. This meant the images they received were of near-space quality, a world premiere, and also a promising sign for the crucial technology to be used in Extremely Large Telescopes, according to ESO.

Quote:

First ever Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics at the VLT Achieves First Light
On the evening of 25 March 2007, the Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics Demonstrator (MAD) achieved First Light at the Visitor Focus of Melipal, the third Unit Telescope of the Very Large Telescope (VLT). MAD allowed the scientists to obtain images corrected for the blurring effect of atmospheric turbulence over the full 2x2 arcminute field of view. This world premiere shows the promises of a crucial technology for Extremely Large Telescopes.

redshifter · #2 (**permalink**) 03-April-2007, 06:04 PM

I wonder what the future of the Hubble looks like now that we have much larger telescopes on the ground that can correct for atmospheric turbulence?

Amber Robot · #3 (**permalink**) 03-April-2007, 06:31 PM

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Originally Posted by redshifter

I wonder what the future of the Hubble looks like now that we have much larger telescopes on the ground that can correct for atmospheric turbulence?

There are still reasons to make observations from space. Access to the ultraviolet and near-infrared, reduced sky background, diffraction limited performance over 'large' fields of view, etc.

I don't think the future of HST is changed that much by recent AO projects. There will be one more servicing mission and that's it.

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