MéO Laser Beam [Explored]

This image shows the MéO (Métrologie Optique) observatory, a Satellite and Lunar Laser Ranging (SLR) dedicated telescope of the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (France), located at Plateau de Calern.

 

The telescope has a primary mirror of 1.54m with a focal length of 31m and uses an alt/azimuth mount with a fast motorization of 5 deg/s, allowing the tracking of satellites from low earth up to geostationary orbits and even on interplanetary missions. It is also used to measure the distance to the Moon to a precision of a few millimeters, by bouncing the laser off reflectors which were left behind by the American Apollo missions and on the Soviet Lunokhod1 rover in the 1970ies.

 

Prints available: ralf-rohner.pixels.com

 

EXIF

Canon EOS 6D, astro-modified

Samyang 24mm f/1.4 @ f/2

Sky: Stack of 6 x 30s @ ISO1600

Foreground: Single Exposure of 30s @ ISO1600

Done