Question

What problem does adaptive optics correct?

a- the opacity of the Earth's atmosphere to some wavelengths of light
b- the light pollution of urban areas
c- defects in the optics of the telescope, such as the original Hubble mirror
d- turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere which creates twinkling
e- chromatic aberration due to use of only a single lens objective

Answer 1

Adaptive optics correct the blurring of images caused by turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere, enabling ground-based telescopes to achieve sharp and high-resolution images.

Step-by-step explanation:

Adaptive optics is a sophisticated technology that addresses the problem of turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere, which causes stars to twinkle and blurs astronomical images. This cutting-edge system employs a small, flexible mirror within the telescope's beam, which can adapt its shape up to 500 times per second based on the feedback from a sensor that monitors atmospheric distortion.

As a result, adaptive optics enables ground-based telescopes to achieve sharp focus and high resolution in their images, comparable to those from space telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope.