images

The VLT Laser Guide Star

by

S.Guisard/Novapix

Reference

o-vlt01-00108

Date

2009-01-31

A 50 cm wide yellow laser beam is coming out of Yepun, (UT4) of the Very Large Telescope. It is used to create a yellow artificial star at 95 km of altitude which helps the adaptive optics to measure and correct the atmosphere's blurring effect. On the left, the two Magellanic Clouds, on the right, the VST dome.