Sharper Vision Date: 07.09.2004 The power of the Keck telescope's adaptive optics system is clear in this image of Uranus, its rings and the moon Miranda. The two sets of exposures compare Keck AO system off (left) to Keck AO system on (right).
Upper: Uranus, its rings and moon Miranda at near infrared wavelengths of 2.2 microns.
Lower: Uranus and its atmospheric details as seen in near infrared wavelengths of 1.6 microns. The image has been doubled in size.
Date is Universal Time.
Image Credit:Heidi Hammel, Space Science Institute, Boulder, CO/Imke de Pater, University of California, Berkeley/ W. M. Keck Observatory