Skip to content
AsteriaStar
Observing technique

Fringe Tracking

The real-time control that keeps the interference fringes of an optical interferometer stable against the atmosphere's constantly-changing path lengths, so faint targets can be observed for longer. Without it, the fringes wash out in a fraction of a second.

Facilities, methods & instruments

Knowledge connections

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • ESOEuropean Southern Observatory

    Southern-hemisphere observatory data and imagery (VLT, ALMA partner).