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Laser for adaptive optics sees (gives?) first light on the 200-inch
Press release at http://pr.caltech.edu/media/Press_Releases/PR12613.html
Photos at http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/outreach/aolgs/ Laser Points to the Future at Palomar PALOMAR MOUNTAIN, Calif. -- The Hale Telescope on Palomar Mountain has been gathering light from the depths of the universe for 55 years. It finally sent some back early last week as a team of astronomers from the California Institute of Technology, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Chicago created an artificial star by propagating a 4-watt laser beam out from the Hale Telescope and up into the night sky. The laser was propagated as the first step in a program to expand the fraction of sky available to the technique known as adaptive optics. Adaptive optics allows astronomers to correct for the fuzzy images produced by earth's moving atmosphere, giving them a view that often surpasses those of smaller telescopes based in space. "We have been steadily improving adaptive optics using bright natural guide stars at Palomar. As a result, the system routinely corrects for atmospheric distortions. Now we will be able to go to the next step," says Richard Dekany, associate director for development at Caltech Optical Observatories. Currently astronomers at Palomar can use the adaptive-optics technique only if a moderately bright star is sufficiently close to their object of interest. The adaptive-optics system uses the star as a source by which astronomers monitor and correct for the distortions produced by earth's atmosphere. Employing the laser will allow astronomers to place an artificial corrective guide star wherever they see fit. To do so, they shine a narrow sodium laser beam up through the atmosphere. At an altitude of about 60 miles, the laser beam makes a small amount of sodium gas glow. The reflected glow from the glowing gas serves as the artificial guide star for the adaptive-optics system. The laser beam is too faint to be seen except by observers very close to the telescope, and the guide star it creates is even fainter. It can't be seen with the unaided eye, yet it is bright enough to allow astronomers to make their adaptive-optics corrections. The Palomar Observatory currently employs the world's fastest astronomical adaptive optics system on its 200-inch Hale Telescope. It is able to correct for changes in the atmosphere 2,000 times per second. Astronomers from Caltech, JPL, and Cornell University have exploited this system to discover brown dwarf companions to stars, study the weather on a moon of Saturn, and see the shapes of asteroids. "This is an important achievement that brings us one step closer to our goal," says Mitchell Troy, the adaptive optics group lead and Palomar adaptive optics task manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The goal, achieving adaptive-optics correction using the laser guide star, is expected next year. This will place Palomar in elite company as just the third observatory worldwide to deploy a laser guide system. This laser will greatly expand the science performed at Palomar and pave the way for future projects on telescopes that have not yet been built. "This a terrific technical achievement which not only opens up a bold and exciting scientific future for the venerable 200-inch telescope, but also demonstrates the next step on a path toward future large telescopes such as the Thirty Meter Telescope, " says Richard Ellis, Steele Family Professor of Astronomy and director of the Caltech Optical Observatories. "The next generation of large telescopes requires sodium laser guide-star adaptive-optics of the type being demonstrated at Palomar Observatory," he adds. Currently in the design phase, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will eventually deliver images at visible and infrared wavelengths 12 times sharper than those of the Hubble Space Telescope. The TMT project is a collaboration between Caltech and the Associated Universities for Research in Astronomy, the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy, and the University of California. The Caltech adaptive optics team is made up of Richard Dekany (team leader) and Viswa Velur, Rich Goeden, Bob Weber, and Khanh Bui. Professor Edward Kibblewhite, University of Chicago, built the Chicago sum-frequency laser used in this project. The JPL Palomar adaptive optics team includes Mitchell Troy (team leader), Gary Brack, Steve Guiwits, Dean Palmer, Jennifer Roberts, Fang Shi, Thang Trinh, Tuan Truong and Kent Wallace. Installation of the laser at the Hale Telescope was overseen by Andrew Pickles, Robert Thicksten, and Hal Petrie of Palomar Observatory, and supported by Merle Sweet, John Henning, and Steve Einer. The Palomar adaptive optics instrument was built and continues to be supported by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as part of a Caltech-JPL collaboration. Support for the adaptive-optics research at Caltech's Palomar Observatory comes from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Oschin Family Foundation, and the National Science Foundation Center for Adaptive Optics. To see photos of the laser, go to: http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/outreach/aolgs/ MEDIA CONTACT: Scott Kardel, Palomar Public Affairs Director (760) 742-2111 Visit the Caltech media relations web site: http://pr.caltech.edu/media |
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The laser was propagated as the first step in a program to expand the
fraction of sky available to the technique known as adaptive optics. Actually the real reason for installing the laser is that the astronomers up on Palomar still haven't learned how to STAR HOP and rather than just sending Howie Glatter some money for a green laser they applied to the government for a grant and now they are stuck acting like there was a good reason for spending all that money.... D and P... Dog and Pony show... G jon |
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On 12 Nov 2004 19:26:14 GMT, Jon Isaacs wrote:
Actually the real reason for installing the laser is that the astronomers up on Palomar still haven't learned how to STAR HOP... That must be it, Jon! I've sent your comment on to the chief night assistant on the 200". It's about time they got their act together there.G I'm sure they'll get a kick our of your response. Mike Simmons |
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Actually, I believe this technique was first tested by Dr. Fugate over a
decade ago at the Starfire Observatory which formed the first prototype upon which the Keck and many other telescopes have been based on ... "Mike Simmons" wrote in message news Press release at http://pr.caltech.edu/media/Press_Releases/PR12613.html Photos at http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/outreach/aolgs/ Laser Points to the Future at Palomar PALOMAR MOUNTAIN, Calif. -- The Hale Telescope on Palomar Mountain has been gathering light from the depths of the universe for 55 years. It finally sent some back early last week as a team of astronomers from the California Institute of Technology, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Chicago created an artificial star by propagating a 4-watt laser beam out from the Hale Telescope and up into the night sky. The laser was propagated as the first step in a program to expand the fraction of sky available to the technique known as adaptive optics. Adaptive optics allows astronomers to correct for the fuzzy images produced by earth's moving atmosphere, giving them a view that often surpasses those of smaller telescopes based in space. "We have been steadily improving adaptive optics using bright natural guide stars at Palomar. As a result, the system routinely corrects for atmospheric distortions. Now we will be able to go to the next step," says Richard Dekany, associate director for development at Caltech Optical Observatories. Currently astronomers at Palomar can use the adaptive-optics technique only if a moderately bright star is sufficiently close to their object of interest. The adaptive-optics system uses the star as a source by which astronomers monitor and correct for the distortions produced by earth's atmosphere. Employing the laser will allow astronomers to place an artificial corrective guide star wherever they see fit. To do so, they shine a narrow sodium laser beam up through the atmosphere. At an altitude of about 60 miles, the laser beam makes a small amount of sodium gas glow. The reflected glow from the glowing gas serves as the artificial guide star for the adaptive-optics system. The laser beam is too faint to be seen except by observers very close to the telescope, and the guide star it creates is even fainter. It can't be seen with the unaided eye, yet it is bright enough to allow astronomers to make their adaptive-optics corrections. The Palomar Observatory currently employs the world's fastest astronomical adaptive optics system on its 200-inch Hale Telescope. It is able to correct for changes in the atmosphere 2,000 times per second. Astronomers from Caltech, JPL, and Cornell University have exploited this system to discover brown dwarf companions to stars, study the weather on a moon of Saturn, and see the shapes of asteroids. "This is an important achievement that brings us one step closer to our goal," says Mitchell Troy, the adaptive optics group lead and Palomar adaptive optics task manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The goal, achieving adaptive-optics correction using the laser guide star, is expected next year. This will place Palomar in elite company as just the third observatory worldwide to deploy a laser guide system. This laser will greatly expand the science performed at Palomar and pave the way for future projects on telescopes that have not yet been built. "This a terrific technical achievement which not only opens up a bold and exciting scientific future for the venerable 200-inch telescope, but also demonstrates the next step on a path toward future large telescopes such as the Thirty Meter Telescope, " says Richard Ellis, Steele Family Professor of Astronomy and director of the Caltech Optical Observatories. "The next generation of large telescopes requires sodium laser guide-star adaptive-optics of the type being demonstrated at Palomar Observatory," he adds. Currently in the design phase, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will eventually deliver images at visible and infrared wavelengths 12 times sharper than those of the Hubble Space Telescope. The TMT project is a collaboration between Caltech and the Associated Universities for Research in Astronomy, the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy, and the University of California. The Caltech adaptive optics team is made up of Richard Dekany (team leader) and Viswa Velur, Rich Goeden, Bob Weber, and Khanh Bui. Professor Edward Kibblewhite, University of Chicago, built the Chicago sum-frequency laser used in this project. The JPL Palomar adaptive optics team includes Mitchell Troy (team leader), Gary Brack, Steve Guiwits, Dean Palmer, Jennifer Roberts, Fang Shi, Thang Trinh, Tuan Truong and Kent Wallace. Installation of the laser at the Hale Telescope was overseen by Andrew Pickles, Robert Thicksten, and Hal Petrie of Palomar Observatory, and supported by Merle Sweet, John Henning, and Steve Einer. The Palomar adaptive optics instrument was built and continues to be supported by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as part of a Caltech-JPL collaboration. Support for the adaptive-optics research at Caltech's Palomar Observatory comes from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Oschin Family Foundation, and the National Science Foundation Center for Adaptive Optics. To see photos of the laser, go to: http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/outreach/aolgs/ MEDIA CONTACT: Scott Kardel, Palomar Public Affairs Director (760) 742-2111 Visit the Caltech media relations web site: http://pr.caltech.edu/media |
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That must be it, Jon! I've sent your comment on to the chief night
assistant on the 200". It's about time they got their act together there.G I'm sure they'll get a kick our of your response. Mike Simmons Mike: Please tell him that I live in San Diego and am willing to spend an evening showing them how to Star Hop and pointing out some of the more obvious DSOs... G jon |
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I thought they have a goto system? I guess it must be for aligning on those first couple of stars after a power outage. I bet it's a bitch trying to get Vega centered in the narrow fov of a 200 incher. --- Michael They are still using the old Meade Magellan System I up on the mountain. GOTO will only get you so far, for the really fine stuff you need to Star Hop... G jon |
#8
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"Jon Isaacs" wrote in message ... That must be it, Jon! I've sent your comment on to the chief night assistant on the 200". It's about time they got their act together there.G I'm sure they'll get a kick our of your response. Mike Simmons Mike: Please tell him that I live in San Diego and am willing to spend an evening showing them how to Star Hop and pointing out some of the more obvious DSOs... G jon Yeah, and if you need any help, I'll be right over... It's less than a five hour drive (ESPECIALLY to help out a worthy cause, so I might put the fuel injectors to what is sometimes referred to as WFO...)... -- Jan Owen To reach me directly, remove the Z, if one appears in my e-mail address... Latitude: 33.662 Longitude: -112.3272 |
#9
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Jon Isaacs wrote
Actually the real reason for installing the laser is that the astronomers up on Palomar still haven't learned how to STAR HOP and rather than just sending Howie Glatter some money for a green laser . . Actually Jon, they did send me some money for a laser. I'm thrilled to have a small connection with this great advance for the historic Palomar telescope. I'll copy below an e-mail I received a while back from Hal Petrie: Dear Mr. Glatter, Palomar Observatory is implementing a Laser Guide Star system to be used in conjunction with our Adaptive Optics on the Hale 200" Telescope. A 6mm laser beam will be projected out of our Coude Room and relayed up the side of the telescope, over to the prime focus cage, and then expanded in a Cassegrain type telescope for projection on the sky. We wish to collimate the Laser Launch Telescope that expands the beam and your products seem to offer features that would be useful to us. I have found references on the web to use of laser collimators, and have been to your website. It would be very helpful, however, if I could speak with you briefly on the phone to clear up a few technical issues and ordering protocol. We are trying to use an Engineering Run at the 200" on Sept 27 to accomplish this collimation, so we have boxed ourselves into a bit of a time crunch. I would greatly appreciate it if you could give me a call at your earliest convenience. Best Regards, Hal Petrie Palomar Observatory |
#10
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How cool! I hope they point it out to amateurs on tours. They love
seeing the Telrads on the 100" at Mt. Wilson.g BTW, Hal is the chief engineer for Caltech Observatories which also includes Keck and the Thrity-Meter. You're definitely in the big time there, Howie! Congrats! Mike Simmons On 13 Nov 2004 05:42:50 -0800, Howie Glatter wrote: Jon Isaacs wrote Actually the real reason for installing the laser is that the astronomers up on Palomar still haven't learned how to STAR HOP and rather than just sending Howie Glatter some money for a green laser . . Actually Jon, they did send me some money for a laser. I'm thrilled to have a small connection with this great advance for the historic Palomar telescope. I'll copy below an e-mail I received a while back from Hal Petrie: Dear Mr. Glatter, Palomar Observatory is implementing a Laser Guide Star system to be used in conjunction with our Adaptive Optics on the Hale 200" Telescope. A 6mm laser beam will be projected out of our Coude Room and relayed up the side of the telescope, over to the prime focus cage, and then expanded in a Cassegrain type telescope for projection on the sky. We wish to collimate the Laser Launch Telescope that expands the beam and your products seem to offer features that would be useful to us. I have found references on the web to use of laser collimators, and have been to your website. It would be very helpful, however, if I could speak with you briefly on the phone to clear up a few technical issues and ordering protocol. We are trying to use an Engineering Run at the 200" on Sept 27 to accomplish this collimation, so we have boxed ourselves into a bit of a time crunch. I would greatly appreciate it if you could give me a call at your earliest convenience. Best Regards, Hal Petrie Palomar Observatory |
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