2014A Day 13: What We Came For – Extreme Wavefront Control Lab

One of MagAO’s specialties is high contrast imaging in the visible using simultaneous differential imaging (SDI). For this run we bought a new H-alpha SDI filter set, and tonight we really put them to use. This image compares our on and off H-alpha PSFs. These are formed from 1 hour of 45 second exposures. No strehl selection or any other shady tricks.

patent pending, Laird M. Close — Since Kate is here, we are of course doing lots of H-alpha differential imaging.

choose your site carefully young padawan — We had a great night tonight, with fantastic seeing the whole night.

double super secret — Kate Follette is back. Here she is taking data with VisAO. She’s hiding the name of the object cuz it’s a secret.

maybe what we need is a space cloud — TJ, Laird, and Alfio hard at work. T. J. is contemplating the fate of humanity.

always a nice sunset — Alycia has joined us again.

clowns. — The burro herd showed up after dinner.

Clock strikes twelve and moondrops burst Out at you from their hiding place — Clay, by the light that never warms. (If you don’t get that reference, you need to start listening to our songs.)

We close tonight with deep thoughts by T. J. Rodigas: “What I’m worried about is human knowledge after the Earth is destroyed . . . we should beam it up to the space station.”