Robo-AO, autonomous laser-adaptive-optics, Caltech Optical Observatories and Inter-University Centre for Astronomy, USA

Time-lapse video of the ultra-violet (UV) laser guide star used by the Robo-AO adaptive optics system. Although the laser is invisible to the human eye, it shows up in digital SLR cameras once their internal UV blocking filters are removed. The apparent color of the laser beam is a result of the UV light leaking through the camera's red, green and blue pixel filters by slightly different amounts.

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DescriptionTime-lapse video of the ultra-violet (UV) laser guide star used by the Robo-AO adaptive optics system. Although the laser is invisible to the human eye, it shows up in digital SLR cameras once their internal UV blocking filters are removed. The apparent color of the laser beam is a result of the UV light leaking through the camera's red, green and blue pixel filters by slightly different amounts.

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Robo-AO is the first autonomous laser adaptive optics system and science instrument operating on sky. The system robotically executes large scale surveys, monitors long-term astrophysical dynamics and characterizes newly discovered transients, all at the visible diffraction limit.

This video shows the propagation of the UV laser used for measuring atmospheric turbulence for each target observed. For more on how the system works, please see: http://www.jove.com/video/50021

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An interview with Robo-AO's principle investigator, Christoph Baranec.

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An interview with project scientist, Dr. Reed Riddle.

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