The European Southern Observatory ’s Very Large Telescope is hit a freakin heavy optical maser into space , to create a virtual star to recompense for the Earth ’s atmospheric interference .
The resulting champion appear to be in the middle of the Milky Way , although it ’s just 56 miles up . This commonly used technique allows the VLT crew to adjust their adaptive optic organisation , a solidification of adjustable mirrors that right for the blurring make by the Earth ’s standard atmosphere . Explains Space.com :
The laser is precisely tune up to energize a bed of sodium atoms found in one of the upper layer of the standard atmosphere . This sodium is thought to be a remnant of countless streaking meteorite . When come to by the optical maser ’s light , the Na atoms jump glowing , form a virtual star the VLT can use as a reference .
astronomer expend this proficiency to obtain penetrative observation . For case , when looking toward the center of our Milky Way , investigator can well supervise the astronomical core , where a primal supermassive dim hole , surrounded by closely orbiting wiz , is bury gas and dust .
pic by Yuri Beletsky . [ Space.com ]
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