On 9 Aug 2001, at 14:45, Andrew Nemchenko wrote: > I've seen scientists use a high powered laser to burn a hole in the atmosphere > and then look through the microscope throught that hole. Since there is no > atmosphere there is not light refraction, therefore they were able to see stars > and planets very clearly with out any twinkle to them. Are you sure that this is what's going on? "Burning" the atmosphere doesn't create a vacuum. I think what you may be thinking of is what is called active optics. This is used at many of the more recent observatories. Scientists shine a laser in to the sky and see how the atmosphere effects it. Then, the hundreds of small motors move small parts reflecting surface inside the telescope to take atmospheric disturbances in to account. This allows images to be much more clearly focused. That's what I think anyway. Ben ----------- Benjamin Exley President The Minnesota Daily bexley at mndaily.com (612)627-4070 x3030