What is the purpose of adaptive optics?

What is the purpose of adaptive optics? A) to improve the angular resolution of telescopes in space. B) to eliminate the distorting effects of atmospheric turbulence for telescopes on the ground. C) to increase the collecting area of telescopes on the ground. read more

Adaptive optics is used for solar astronomy at observatories such as the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope and Big Bear Solar Observatory. It is also expected to play a military role by allowing ground-based and airborne laser weapons to reach and destroy targets at a distance including satellites in orbit. read more

to eliminate the distorting effects of atmospheric turbulence for telescopes on the ground True or false: A radio telescope and an optical telescope of the same size have the same angular resolution. read more

The above answer is correct in some situations. For most AO setups, the adaptive optics happens after the primary mirror using a secondary or tertiary mirror. The adaptive optic corrector (either a deformable mirror or spatial light modulator) changes the phase of the light to correct for turbulence in the atmosphere. read more