Adaptive Optics

The model A0-7 Adaptive Optics System has two components: a high speed tip-tilt mirror for atmospheric correction, and new image enhancement software implementing the Lucy-Richardson algorithm.

Tip-tilt high speed guiding:
Utilizing a second guiding CCD as an imaging sensor, the guide star's position is read out at rates up to 40 times per second. The tip-tilt mirror adjusts to hold the star on the designated pixel for the length of the imaging CCD's exposure. The result is sharper stars and more clearly defined nebular features.

Lucy-Richardson image enhancement:
The Lucy-Richardson image sharpening program produces dramatic improvements in image detail; visually at least a 2x improvement. The algorithms used are similar to those used on Hubble Space Telescope images.

The A0 system can have a remarkable effect on CCD imaging by reducing the atmospheric turbulence, wind induced vibrations, and eliminating the remaining periodic errors in most telescope drives.

We have yet to run our new system through rigorous tests to determine exactly how effective it turns out to be; we look to Charles and Trevor in the summer of 2002 to find these results.