Today's Image

Telescopes and laser beam, in Hawai’i

Nair Sankar calls this photo The Galea. He wrote:
Nair Sankar calls this photo The Galea (helmet). He wrote: “This observatory reminds me of the Roman war helmet aka a galea.”

Nair Sankar posted this photo to EarthSky Facebook on July 23, 2016. It’s the Caltech Submillimeter Telescope, near the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawai’i. Nair said the orange laser beam is being fired upward from another telescope on Mauna Kea, one of the the W.M. Keck Observatory telescopes. Its job is to measure atmospheric distortions, with the goal of helping to produce sharper astronomical images.

Fair commented that the altitude (13,870 feet, or 4,227 meters) was a problem for him, but that:

… I had a great time shooting some amazing night skies here.

Thanks, Nair!

See Nair’s Facebook page: facebook.com/nightscapefotografia

Posted 
July 24, 2016
 in 
Today's Image

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