Astronomical seeing, as a research area, focuses on the characterization, modeling, and mitigation of atmospheric turbulence effects on ground-based astronomical observations. It investigates how refractive index fluctuations in the Earth’s atmosphere distort incoming wavefronts, degrading spatial resolution and image stability. Research in this domain encompasses site testing and monitoring of seeing conditions, development of turbulence profiles (e.g., Cn²(h)), and quantitative metrics such as Fried’s parameter (r₀) and coherence time (τ₀). It also underpins the design and optimization of adaptive optics systems, interferometry, and post-processing techniques to restore or approach diffraction-limited performance.
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