What technology allows large ground-based telescopes to rival the resolution of space telescopes in specific wavelength ranges?
Answer
Adaptive Optics (AO) systems that deform a secondary mirror to counteract atmospheric blurring.
Adaptive Optics (AO) systems use extremely fast sensors to measure atmospheric distortion and then deform a secondary, smaller mirror thousands of times per second to precisely counteract the blurring caused by the atmosphere.
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Why Do We Need Both Ground-Based and Space Telescopes?
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