Post by TNO

Lighting the way for the ELT 🌟 We’re proud to see TNO’s Laser Projection System (LPS) highlighted as ESO’s Picture of the Week. Behind this striking image lies a crucial technology for the next generation of astronomy. Our LPS will be part of the adaptive optics system of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), helping to overcome one of the biggest challenges in ground-based observations: atmospheric disturbance. By projecting powerful laser beams high into the sky, artificial reference stars are created. These “guide stars” enable telescopes to correct distortions in real time - revealing sharper, more detailed views of the universe than ever before. The LPS is developed by TNO in close collaboration with Demcon and in partnership with ESO and other industrial contributors. With several systems already supporting operations and more to be deployed on the ELT, this is a great example of how long-term collaboration drives breakthrough innovation. 🔭 Together, we’re enabling astronomers to push the boundaries of what we can observe and understand about our universe. Credits: European Southern Observatory/ TNO/ Demcon/ Fred Kamphues