A Laser Strike at the Galactic Center . ... Rather, astronomers at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) site in Chile are trying to measure the distortions of Earth's ever changing atmosphere . Constant imaging of high-altitude atoms excited by the laser -- which appear like an artificial star -- allow astronomers to instantly measure atmospheric blurring . ... In this case , a VLT was observing our Galaxy's center , and so Earth's atmospheric blurring in that direction was needed. ...