AO at Lick Observatory

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The Lick Observatory Adaptive Optics System mounted at the Cassegrain focus of the 120" Shane Telescope.

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LLNL Engineer Don Gavel next to the Adaptive Optics optical bench. The blue box to the right of the bench is the IRCAL near infra-red camera. This system is mouted at the Cassegrain focus of the Shane 120" as shown above.

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The Sodium Laser emerging from the dome of the 120" Shane Telescope at the Lick Observatory. The laser is used to create an artificial guide star for the adaptive optics system using excitation of the sodium layer at an altitude of approximately 90 km. It is mounted on the side of the telescope.

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The Sodium laser launching from the side of the Lick Observatory 120" Shane Telescope. This is a 10 minute time exposure - note the star trails.