Question

This phenomenon is often quantified by the full width at half maximum of a namesake disk defined by the point spread function. For 10 points each:
[10m] Give this specific term which refers to the various effects in which atmospheric turbulence distorts oncoming wavefronts. Adaptive optics is used to correct for it.
ANSWER: astronomical seeing [accept seeing disk]
[10h] Adaptive optics involves using one of these objects as a reference of wavefronts that are then detected by a Shack-Hartmann sensor. These objects are artificially generated by exciting mesospheric sodium using a 589 nanometer laser.
ANSWER: guide stars [accept natural guide stars; or laser guide stars; accept NGS or LGS]
[10e] Astronomical seeing in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere causes this specific visual effect, in which the brightness or color of a star appears to fluctuate.
ANSWER: twinkling [or scintillation; accept word forms of either answer]
<Chen, Other Science>

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