CIAO: An on-the-shelf adaptive optics system for astronomers

Abstract

Since 1990, adaptive optics are used in astronomy to remove the effects of atmospheric turbulence, and then retrieve diffraction-limited images, even in bad seeing conditions. Thanks to its strong knowledge in Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing and deformable mirror, Imagine Optic has developed a simple and affordable adaptive optics system for astronomers. We present the current prototype as well as first experimental results on both natural stars and extended sources, with the main goal of allowing an effective correction in all sky conditions regardless of the object.