The most advanced telescopes on the planet have a new tool to look more sharply at the universe: next-generation lasers. The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has begun tests with powerful lasers developed with industrial partners to strengthen the adaptive optics system of both the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the future Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), both located in the Atacama Desert, Chile.
These lasers create artificial stars in the night sky, allowing the distortions caused by the Earth’s atmosphere to be calibrated. This allows the telescopes to correct the blurring and obtain sharper images of distant celestial objects.
This breakthrough is vital for highly sensitive spectroscopic studies that search for traces of life in exoplanet atmospheres.
Lasers create artificial stars in the night sky. Source: ESO
World’s largest telescope and the exploration of exoplanets
The ELT, with a primary mirror 39-meter diameter primary mirror, will be the world’s largest ground-based optical telescope once it enters operation. Its design includes cutting-edge technologies such as adaptive optics and multiple laser systems, positioning it as a key element for studying planets outside the Solar System.
Thanks to its light-gathering capability and these new lasers, the ELT will be able to make detailed observations of potentially habitable worlds in just a few hours.
These measurements focus on identifying biomarkers such as oxygen or methane in planetary atmospheres by means of transit spectroscopic or reflected light analysis.
The development of the new lasers is being carried out together with European companies specialized in optical technologies. These devices must operate with extreme precision to generate so-called “guide stars”, an essential component for atmospheric turbulence correction systems.
The impact of this innovation goes beyond ESO’s telescopes. It represents a decisive step towards a terrestrial astronomy competitive with space telescopes, expanding the frontiers of knowledge about the origin and conditions of life on other planets.
The location of both telescopes in the Atacama Desert is no coincidence. The climatic conditions and low light pollution make this region one of the best places on the planet for astronomical observation. The ELT will consolidate Chile as a world reference in cosmos exploration technology.
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Source and photos: ESO
