Its design was inspired by the more modest optical equipment we usually carry around the neck.
The LBT is currently one of the worlds highest resolution and most technologically advanced optical telescopes.
To correct atmospheric distortion, astronomers use adaptive optics technology.
A special wavefront sensor measures atmospheric distortions in real time.
The mirror can make adjustments every one-thousandth of a second, with accuracy to better than ten nanometers.
Photo credit: LBTO.org
Image sharpness is measured in Strehl ratio, where 100 percent represents a perfect image.
These results were achieved using only one of LBTs mirrors.
Imagine the potential when we have adaptive optics on both of LBTs giant eyes.
When compared to images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, LBTs images were three times as much sharper.
