When light from space enters Earth’s atmosphere, it is distorted and displaced, something our eyes perceive as “twinkling.”  Adaptive optics can remove a great deal of this distortion, essentially restoring much of the detail we’ve been robbed off in our view of the stars and galaxies.  Dr. Max, a world-renowned pioneer in this technique, shows us how modern lasers allow her to do this very precisely.  And she discusses how this technique is giving us sharper views of such cosmic events as the collision of nearby galaxies. Speaker: Dr. Claire Max (University of California Observatories) Oct. 3, 2018

When light from space enters Earth’s atmosphere, it is distorted and displaced, something our eyes perceive as “twinkling.” Adaptive optics can remove a great deal of this distortion, essentially restoring much of the detail we’ve been robbed off in our view of the stars and galaxies. Dr. Max, a world-renowned pioneer in this technique, shows us how modern lasers allow her to do this very precisely. And she discusses how this technique is giving us sharper views of such cosmic events as the collision of nearby galaxies. Speaker: Dr. Claire Max (University of California Observatories) Oct. 3, 2018

When light from space enters Earth’s atmosphere, it is distorted and displaced, something our eyes perceive as “twinkling.”&nbsp; Adaptive optics can remove a great deal of this distortion, essentially restoring much of the detail we’ve been robbed off in our view of the stars and galaxies.&nbsp; Dr. Max, a world-renowned pioneer in this technique, shows us how modern lasers allow her to do this very precisely.&nbsp; And she discusses how this technique is giving us sharper views of such cosmic events as the collision of nearby galaxies. Speaker: Dr. Claire Max (University of California Observatories) Oct. 3, 2018

A Sharper Image: Seeing Colliding Galaxies with Adaptive Optics (with Dr. Claire Max)

Listen to exciting, non-technical talks on some of the most interesting developments in astronomy and space science.  Founded in 1999, the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures are presented on six Wednesday evenings during each school year at Foothill College, in the heart of California's Silicon Valley. Speakers include a wide range of noted scientists, explaining astronomical developments in everyday language. The series is organized and moderated by Foothill's astronomy instructor emeritus Andrew Fraknoi and jointly sponsored by the Foothill College Physical Science, Math, and Engineering Division, the SETI Institute,  the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and the University of California Observatories (including the Lick Observatory.)

Science

Astronomy

Listen to exciting, non-technical talks on some of the most interesting developments in astronomy and space science. Founded in 1999, the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures are presented on six Wednesday evenings during each school year at Foothill College, in the heart of California's Silicon Valley. Speakers include a wide range of noted scientists, explaining astronomical developments in everyday language. The series is organized and moderated by Foothill's astronomy instructor emeritus Andrew Fraknoi and jointly sponsored by the Foothill College Physical Science, Math, and Engineering Division, the SETI Institute, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and the University of California Observatories (including the Lick Observatory.)

Share A Sharper Image: Seeing Colliding Galaxies with Adaptive Optics (with Dr. Claire Max)

Sign up to save your podcasts

A Sharper Image: Seeing Colliding Galaxies with Adaptive Optics (with Dr. Claire Max)

A Sharper Image: Seeing Colliding Galaxies with Adaptive Optics (with Dr. Claire Max)

More shows like Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures

Big Picture Science

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Astronomy Cast

The 365 Days of Astronomy

StarTalk Radio

Universe Today Podcast

Ask a Spaceman!

Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries

SpaceTime: Your Guide to Space & Astronomy

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

The Supermassive Podcast

NASA's Curious Universe

Why This Universe?

Crash Course Pods: The Universe