From AAO: “A new laser at the AAT!”

AAO Australian Astronomical Observatory

Australian Astronomical Observatory

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A new laser at the AAT! Last week we took delivery of the new laser frequency comb for the Veloce spectrograph (https://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/~cgt/Veloce/Veloce.html), which will replace the AAT’s venerable UCLES instrument early next year. The laser frequency comb will provide Veloce with an ultra-stable calibration source, enabling it to separate tiny Doppler shifts in the wavelength of light from a star caused by orbiting exoplanets from slight drifts in the instrument itself. With this Veloce will be able to measure Doppler shifts of less than 1 part in 300 000 000, equivalent to measuring the motion of a star to a precision of less than 3.6 kilometres per hour!

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^AJH

See the full article here .

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AAO Anglo Australian Telescope Exterior
AAO Anglo Australian Telescope Interior
Anglo-Australian telescope

The Australian Astronomical Observatory, a division of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, operates the Anglo-Australian and UK Schmidt telescopes on behalf of the astronomical community of Australia. To this end the Observatory is part of and is funded by the Australian Government. Its function is to provide world-class observing facilities for Australian optical astronomers.