Neptune through Adaptive Optics
Explanation:
From the Earth's surface,
Neptune usually appears as a fuzzy blotch.
The
blurring effects of the Earth's atmosphere deny clearer images.
By
distorting mirrors in the telescope itself in
time with the changing atmosphere, however,
these effects can be greatly reduced.
Many of the
world's largest telescopes are
now implementing
these "rubber mirror" adaptive optics (AO) systems to bring out the finest details
that these telescopes can resolve.
Recently the 10-meter
Keck II telescope
in Hawaii came
on-line with AO capability.
The
above image of Neptune in three
infrared colors demonstrates the clarity of the new technique -
as compared to an image of Neptune from
Keck II
without AO.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
