Keck's Laser
The laser is used for adaptive optics. Essentially, turbulence in the atmosphere blurs out detail in the galaxy/stars/etc just as heat coming off pavement causes shimmering effects. The laser enables the telescope to track the turbulence, and a deformable mirror changes shape hundreds of times per second in order to cancel out the effects of the turbulence. The result is images with much more detail than would otherwise be possible.
JCMT (the telescope that I'm currently observing on) is in the bottom left. The constellation Orion is behind the laser in this image. The scene is lit by the moon.
Keck's Laser
The laser is used for adaptive optics. Essentially, turbulence in the atmosphere blurs out detail in the galaxy/stars/etc just as heat coming off pavement causes shimmering effects. The laser enables the telescope to track the turbulence, and a deformable mirror changes shape hundreds of times per second in order to cancel out the effects of the turbulence. The result is images with much more detail than would otherwise be possible.
JCMT (the telescope that I'm currently observing on) is in the bottom left. The constellation Orion is behind the laser in this image. The scene is lit by the moon.