Our poems depict, from the mirror’s perspective, the workings of an adaptive optics system that utilizes a pulsed dye laser.

From Zachary Williams

I’m lost and adrift, searching through a vast black sea,

Without a star to show me the way;

I can only hope my helmsman’s aim and judgment is true,

I go whichever direction he points;

It’s as if his map is made to divulge only directions,

It tells which way but not how far;

Of all the places in the universe the sky is the ficklest,

It distorts what seems to be clear,

It creates a turbid cloud before the stars, a mirage,

Making penetration a fool’s task;

If only there was a means to remedy this predicament,

A veritable Sherpa of the stars;

If only there was an intermediate step between us,

Near enough and far enough away,

Some sort of beacon to light up the capricious night sky,

Technology will certainly find a way.

From Andrew Spencer

Check your wind speed and your barometers,

Interference at 589 nanometers.

Lazing with dye,

You blast sodium in the sky

As the ocean of air seethes above.

I picked up your signal, more like a spell,

Any disobedience, I can’t compel.

My MEMs move up and down

And all around

To remove the blur.

When I feel the stress and the strain,

I don’t complain

Because I’m flexible, a real contortionist.

You can leave me dented, dimpled like a Titleist.

But it’s not flight that’s got me all bent into shape.

Milliarcsecond resolution,

Clearly a solution

To removing atmospheric noise

Without playing with astronauts’ toys.

After blasting off billions, Hubble needed glasses.

Pulsation.

Excitation.

Computation.

Actuation.

The stars don’t twinkle anymore.

From Andrew Shapransky

The Radiation

Amplifies your photons

You stimulate me

Optics adapted

A new outlook on my world

Shooting for the stars

Now I am stronger

I can do more for myself

And more for others

My friends, astronomers

The Keck Observatory

Mamalahoa

Once, things were unclear,

I love you so very much,

Bright sexy laser.