adaptive optics
noun
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: a telescopic system that improves image resolution by compensating for distortions caused by atmospheric turbulence
Examples of adaptive optics in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This process is called adaptive optics and is pretty common now.
—
Aaron Shattuck, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
Current adaptive optics on telescopes can resolve at best a point 30 milliarcseconds across (a measure of an object’s angular size on the sky).
—Ann Finkbeiner, Scientific American, 22 Dec. 2016
But space monitoring and communication strongly benefit from adaptive optics even on modest apertures.
—Scientific American, 15 Mar. 2021
In 1986, the Voyager 2 spacecraft flew past the planet, and the Keck Observatory has captured images using advanced adaptive optics.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 7 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for adaptive optics 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Aaron Shattuck, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
Current adaptive optics on telescopes can resolve at best a point 30 milliarcseconds across (a measure of an object’s angular size on the sky).
—Ann Finkbeiner, Scientific American, 22 Dec. 2016
But space monitoring and communication strongly benefit from adaptive optics even on modest apertures.
—Scientific American, 15 Mar. 2021
In 1986, the Voyager 2 spacecraft flew past the planet, and the Keck Observatory has captured images using advanced adaptive optics.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 7 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for adaptive optics
Dictionary Entries Near adaptive optics
Cite this Entry
“Adaptive optics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adaptive%20optics. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share