Roid Rage Through The Looking Scope (ft. Al Conrad, Large Binocular Telescope Observatory)
May 22, 2025
Al Conrad, a seasoned astronomer from the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory, shares his wealth of knowledge on asteroid observation. He dives into the art and science of using powerful telescopes, explaining how Earth's atmosphere affects clarity and the role of adaptive optics. Al discusses the curious case of Oumuamua and the ongoing quest to understand extraterrestrial life, all while infusing humor into the challenges of telescope time proposals and asteroid naming. An engaging mix of insights and stories awaits!
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Al Conrad's Career Journey
- Al Conrad shares his journey from math student to asteroid observer at major observatories.
- He has experience at Lick Observatory, Max Planck in Germany, and now at LBTO.
Large Binocular Telescope Uniqueness
- Large Binocular Telescope combines two mirrors to collect more light, improving detail and sensitivity.
- It achieves 20 milli-arcsecond resolution, equating to about 80 km detail on moons like Io or planets like Jupiter.
Adaptive Optics Overcomes Atmospheric Limits
- For amateur telescopes, aperture beyond 20-40 cm is limited by atmospheric seeing.
- To improve clarity on large ground telescopes, adaptive optics is essential to overcome atmospheric blur.