ESO is the European Southern Observatory, and VLT stands for Very Large telescope. There's an acronym I can live with.
The VLT is really four separate telescopes with mirrors 8.2 meters (26 feet and almost 11 inches) across. Each of these can be used alone, and generally they are used that way a lot, but when used together in groups (along with four smaller, movable Auxiliary Telescopes) they can greatly increase the resolution of an image. When they are used this way they are called an Interferometer.
Links:
A Really Excellent You Tube Video
An Explanation of Interferometry
Word of The Day
Resolution: The ability to distinguish two separate points as to distinct points rather than one big blur. The ESO website says that the VLT could see a car's headlights as two points if the car were on the moon.
Resolution: The ability to distinguish two separate points as to distinct points rather than one big blur. The ESO website says that the VLT could see a car's headlights as two points if the car were on the moon.
4 comments:
This is just what I need after a thumping migraine lol, got me into action again.
This gives me an idea for a post...
It'll be up sometime next week.
Probably Tuesday. :)
The video was cool!
I was watching a program on NatGeo about the VLT. I had to hear it twice to realize that it stood for very large telescope.
Jenai: Feel Better
Janna: Thank you
Travis: It sounds kind of like a sandwich.
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