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KECK OBSERVATORY
MAUNA KEA SUMMIT
ISLAND OF HAWAI‘I

2007 April 2

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES:
ADAPTIVE OPTICS / LASER GUIDE STAR ~ AO/LGS

Many celestial objects are very faint, such as those that lie in the most remote regions of the universe. Earth’s turbulent atmosphere blurs celestial images that arrive at the telescope, making observation and analysis difficult. But an extraordinary new technology is revolutionizing ground-based astronomy. This 12-watt laser beam creates a bright “artificial star“ high in the atmosphere, along the line of sight to the object being observed. Astronomers then measure the atmospheric disturbance, or twinkling in the artificial star, and make rapid counter-corrections by continually deforming a small flexible mirror in the light path. Both laser “star” and faint target object then come into precise focus, yielding substantially better data than would otherwise be possible.  

OBSERVING PROGRAM:

Principle Investigator Franck Marchis writes:  

"Mike Wong and I are both researchers at the University of  California at Berkeley. We are searching for binary Jovian-Trojan asteroids, small satellites around these asteroids which are located along the orbit of Jupiter. Jovian-Trojan are distributed in two swarms of stable equilibrium points formed by the Jupiter-Sun system, placed in front and behind Jupiter. During this night, we recorded high angular resolution images of approximately 20 trojan asteroids located in the L5 (behind jupiter) Lagrange point. Using the companion, we want to measure the mass and density of these minor planets to know if they were formed in-situ or are captured icy planetesimals."

A VIEW FROM MAUNA KEA ~ SACRED MOUNTAIN OF HAWAI‘I

Mauna Kea holds profound religious and cultural significance for Native Hawaiians. It embodies their divine ancestral origins and connection to Creation. At 13,796 feet / 4,205 meters in elevation on the Island of Hawai‘i, it last erupted about 4400 years ago. The now-dormant volcano is only 120 feet higher than its active neighbor Mauna Loa 27 miles to the south. Seen from below and framed by palm trees and azure waters, the snow-cloaked summit of Mauna Kea inspires awe and veneration—its Hawaiian name means “White Mountain”. The star-filled sky above offers unsurpassed clarity for some of the world’s most advanced telescopes as they unravel mysteries of the universe. Upon its flanks are hallowed Hawaiian sites, ancient paths, rare plants and animals, and a unique and fragile ecosystem. Please walk gently and respectfully on Mauna O Wākea, the Sacred Mountain of Hawai‘i.

EXPOSURE DATA

Nikon D2x
Nikkor 10.5mm DX f/2.8 fisheye lens
ISO digital: 125  /  f/3.5
Exposure: 60 seconds 

A digital perspective correction filter was subsequently applied to the image file to restore fisheye distortion to a rectillinear view.

Read more about LASER GUIDE STAR: Terrestrial Photography. This is primarily a discussion about the creation of two of my 2007 Keck Observatory laser images that illustrate author Robert Irion's feature article "Homing in on Black Holes" in the 2008 April Smithsonian Magazine. Although the image on this page did not appear in the magazine, logistics of photographing the laser still apply.

COPYRIGHT

All images and text are property of Laurie Hatch Photography; unauthorized use is a violation of copyright law. You are welcome to email me with your useage requests.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

W. M. Keck Observatory

Keck Adaptive Optics / Laser Guide Star

‘Imiloa: Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i

Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station

The photographer thanks the astronomers and Keck staff for their invaluable assistance and collaboration in producing this photograph. 

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