adaptive optics
noun, plural in form but singular or plural in constructionDefinition of adaptive optics
: a telescopic system that improves image resolution by compensating for distortions caused by atmospheric turbulence
Examples of adaptive optics in a Sentence
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But to be able to see these fine details, Ghez had to become a pioneering user of adaptive optics, a technology that measures distortions in the atmosphere and then adjusts the telescope in real time to cancel out those fluctuations. — Quanta Magazine, "Black-Hole Hunter Takes Aim at Einstein," 27 July 2017 The new adaptive optics technology was used to image Neptune, as well as star clusters and other objects. — Jay Bennett, Popular Mechanics, "New Technology Allows Ground Telescope to Take Sharper Images Than Hubble," 18 July 2018 To overcome the issue, the new scope uses a technique from astrophysics called adaptive optics. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Watch Cells Move Within Living Animals in This Breathtaking Footage," 30 Apr. 2018 To help correct for this, Betzig borrowed a technique from astronomers called adaptive optics. — Nick Lunn, National Geographic, "First-of-Its-Kind Footage Shows Cells Moving in Live Animals," 19 Apr. 2018 The second major breakthrough in telescope technology, which the GMT will use, is adaptive optics. — Jay Bennett, Popular Mechanics, "The Deep Space Eye in the Desert," 14 Feb. 2018 Mount Sinai has a precise imaging machine that uses adaptive optics, which can examine individual cells of the retina. — Travis M. Andrews, chicagotribune.com, "The solar eclipse burned a crescent wound on a woman's retina," 8 Dec. 2017 To diagnose the damage, Dr. Deobhakta and his colleagues used a new technique called adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy that offers an unusually clear and precise view of the retina cells. — Robert Lee Hotz, WSJ, "An Unfortunate Memento of the Total Eclipse: Eye Damage," 7 Dec. 2017 Those components include 210 of the 798 segments that make up the 39-meter main mirror, back-up mirror segments, some lasers for the adaptive optics system, and a few instrument components. — Daniel Clery, Science | AAAS, "Top astronomer on the challenges of building the world’s largest telescope, and what’s next," 15 Sep. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adaptive optics.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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