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New Series of Photographs Joins the Subaru Gallery
January 28, 2011
Subaru Telescope is proud to add a new photo series entitled "The Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea" to its already extensive gallery of images available for viewing on its website. Previous series in the Subaru Gallery have included astronomical images and facility photographs (e.g., the base facility, the telescope and its enclosure, science instruments). The first two parts of the new series are entitled "Laser Guide Star" and "Starry Nights on Mauna Kea."
"Laser Guide Star" features photos of tests of the forthcoming laser guide star system, which shoots a laser beam into the sky to create an artificial star when a natural star is not available near a target of observation. The laser guide star system will soon be part of Subaru's upgraded 188-element Adaptive Optics (AO) system, designed to compensate for distortions of images caused by turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere. (See Subaru's Improved AO System Resumes Operation for detail) The photographs of the laser radiating from inside the telescope's enclosure and cutting through the night sky are reminiscent of the high-tech devices pictured in past science fiction movies like "Star Wars". The laser guide star system will improve the telescope's eyesight by a factor of ten (See Subaru Telescope Improves its Eyesight by a Factor of Ten for detail), allowing it to see faint and previously unobservable objects.
"Starry Nights on Mauna Kea" focuses on Subaru's enclosure surrounded by the star-filled night sky. Dr. Sebastian Egner, a former AO systems engineer at Subaru, applied his skills in optics to capture these beautiful images. For example, the picture "Star Trails" resulted from a long exposure of over three hours on a clear night at the summit. Please look at these photographs and enjoy the beauty of the night sky.
Viewing the photographs in the gallery allows you to catch a glimpse of why astronomers regard the location of the Subaru Telescope atop Mauna Kea as one of the best astronomical sites in the world to observe the universe. Photographs are continually added to the gallery, and more are coming soon to this new series, "Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea." Don't miss them. Check it out!
Links: "Laser Guide Star" and "Starry Nights on Mauna Kea"
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| Picture: Star Trails
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