ESO Video News Reel Feb 2006 - Man-made Star

Man-made star shines in the southern sky. This ESO VNR describes how ESO astronomers at La Silla Paranal achieved a major milestone in 2006 by creating the first artificial star in the southern hemisphere. This laser guide star allows astronomers to use the adaptive optics technique to correct for atmospheric turbulence, enabling the observation of finer detail in astronomical observations, as well as observing fainter objects. Contains footage filmed at La Silla Paranal in Chile and an interview with ESO's Dominico Bonaccini Calia. Mainly of interest to astronomers rather than general public.