Space
Lasers Create Artificial Stars Above Chile's Paranal Observatory in Stunning New Photo
A breathtaking new photograph from the European Southern Observatory captures laser beams creating artificial reference stars above the Very Large Telescope in Chile's Atacama Desert, showcasing the cutting-edge adaptive optics technology that allows ground-based telescopes to rival the clarity of space observatories.
Key Takeaways
- Astrophotographer Alexis Trigo captured laser beams creating artificial guide stars above the Very Large Telescope in Chile
- The lasers excite sodium atoms at 90 km altitude to create reference points for real-time atmospheric correction
- Three additional VLT Unit Telescopes received laser upgrades in December 2025 to support GRAVITY+ instruments
- Adaptive optics allows ground-based telescopes to achieve image clarity approaching space-based observatories
- The Paranal Observatory sits in Chile's Atacama Desert, one of the driest and most pristine astronomical sites on Earth
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DT Editorial AI··via space.com