Kamis, 29 September 2011

Lightning Lights Up Laser



The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has its telescopes in Chile for this very reason: thunderstorms make it difficult to see the stars. But sometimes they can make for some cool photos! The above image was taken in Germany at the Allgäu Public Observatory in southwestern Bavaria where ESO was conducting a test of its new laser guide star unit.

The laser, in this case a 20-watt beam, forms an artificial star in the night sky 90 kilometers (56 miles) high in the Earth’s atmosphere. The laser guide star allows astronomers to calculate just how much of a blur effect the atmosphere is producing.

Taking time-lapse photos of the test, visual artist Martin Kornmesser of the ESO outreach department captured the approaching thunderstorm and its display of lightning. 


by "environment clean generations"

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