10-09-2018, 05:58 PM
Thanks, everyone, especially for the support of UKIRT, but this is going a little off-topic so will try and start bringing it back. Not with a discovery, but since we've discussed adaptive optics recently, news of NFS funding for a revolutionary new way of using adaptive optics.
https://www.gemini.edu/node/21105
"The award carries Gemini forward in two ways. One element funds major software and operational upgrades to improve capabilities at both Gemini telescopes for extremely rapid follow-up studies of transient sources. The other key aspect is a state-of-the-art multi-conjugate adaptive optics (AO) system for wide-field, high-resolution imaging at the 8-meter Gemini North telescope on Maunakea in Hawai’i."
Lasers have been used by telescopes to excite atoms in the upper atmosphere that can be used as an "artificial guide star", so no matter where the telescope points it can use that virtual star to correct for the effects of the atmosphere. This new technology allows a laser to produce several guide stars from one laser over a much wider field so even wide-field images can be corrected and you end up with several objects, perhaps hundreds or even thousands, that will be seen in detail that can't be seen at milli-arcsecond resolution today - all in one exposure.
It'll take a few years of development, but could be a game-changer for ground-based astronomy. The grant also comes with money for public outreach and education, much of which will happen in Hawaii.
https://www.gemini.edu/node/21105
"The award carries Gemini forward in two ways. One element funds major software and operational upgrades to improve capabilities at both Gemini telescopes for extremely rapid follow-up studies of transient sources. The other key aspect is a state-of-the-art multi-conjugate adaptive optics (AO) system for wide-field, high-resolution imaging at the 8-meter Gemini North telescope on Maunakea in Hawai’i."
Lasers have been used by telescopes to excite atoms in the upper atmosphere that can be used as an "artificial guide star", so no matter where the telescope points it can use that virtual star to correct for the effects of the atmosphere. This new technology allows a laser to produce several guide stars from one laser over a much wider field so even wide-field images can be corrected and you end up with several objects, perhaps hundreds or even thousands, that will be seen in detail that can't be seen at milli-arcsecond resolution today - all in one exposure.
It'll take a few years of development, but could be a game-changer for ground-based astronomy. The grant also comes with money for public outreach and education, much of which will happen in Hawaii.