Science

Judi Lynn

(160,530 posts) Thu Apr 28, 2016, 01:07 AM Apr 2016

The giant lasers so powerful they can create an artificial STAR: Chilean instrument can cut through

The giant lasers so powerful they can create an artificial STAR: Chilean instrument can cut through the atmosphere to give astronomers a clear view

4LGSF produces four 22-watt laser beams which are each about a foot wide

Beams are shined into sky, causing sodium atoms in atmosphere to glow

This helps telescopes obtain sharper images in Earth's blurred atmosphere

It is now a crucial part of the Very Large Telescope adaptive optics system

By Cheyenne Macdonald For Dailymail.com
Published: 17:43 EST, 27 April 2016 | Updated: 20:10 EST, 27 April 2016

Four powerful laser beams cut through the sky above the Paranal Observatory in Chile on Tuesday, forming massive artificial stars that will light the way for future astronomical research.

The new system creates the most powerful laser guide stars ever used, and makes up a crucial component of the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope.

Guide stars help telescopes to ‘see’ through the blurring caused by Earth’s atmosphere, and the revolutionary use of multiple beams aims to improve image quality over a larger field of view.

The Four Laser Guide Star Facility produces four 22-watt laser beams which are each almost a foot wide.

Researchers from around the world collaborated to manufacture its many different elements.

Guide stars like the 4LGSF system are created to look just like real stars.

At this particular facility four massive laser beams are shined into the sky, which causes sodium atoms in the upper atmosphere to glow.

More:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3562451/The-giant-lasers-powerful-create-artificial-STAR-Chilean-instruments-cut-atmosphere-astronomers-clear-view.html#ixzz475w3255z

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The giant lasers so powerful they can create an artificial STAR: Chilean instrument can cut through (Original Post) Judi Lynn Apr 2016 OP

Come on! The headline is absolutely misleading. DetlefK Apr 2016 #1

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)

1. Come on! The headline is absolutely misleading.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Apr 28, 2016, 06:21 AM

Apr 2016

The lasers excite sodium-atoms in the upper atmosphere. They form glowing spots of air that should stay at the same place, but don't because of wind. The movement of these glowing spots allows the scientists to calculate how wind and atmosphere distort the image of the nightsky and to calculate correct images from that.

But that sounds less exciting than "ARTIFICIAL STARS"!!!!!

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