原题
Optical Astronomy's Adaptive Revolution
Optical astronomy, the study of celestial objects through visible light, has been revolutionized by adaptive optics, first developed in the late 1980s. This technology, which allows ground-based telescopes at observatories to counteract atmospheric distortion, has enabled astronomers to observe the cosmos with exceptional clarity. Light waves from distant stars travel through Earth's atmosphere, creating a shimmering effect that distorts them. Adaptive optics corrects these distortions in real time using a system of deformable mirrors controlled by computer algorithms. The mirrors can change shape rapidly to counteract the distortion, with the algorithms calculating the needed adjustments thousands of times per second.
However, the technology is not without controversy. Some argue that the energy consumption of adaptive optics contributes significantly to observatories' carbon footprints. Yet, proponents counter that the potential discoveries outweigh environmental concerns, citing recent breakthroughs in identifying exoplanets potentially hospitable to life.
The debate highlights the complexities of balancing scientific advancement with environmental stewardship. Some researchers are actively exploring the use of solar panels and wind turbines to power these observatories, especially for daytime operations. Others are trying to optimize algorithms to reduce unnecessary computations and the need for constant high-speed corrections.
What can be inferred from the passage about the capabilities of optical astronomy BEFORE the late 1980s?
AImages of celestial objects from ground-based telescopes were often unclear.
BAstronomers used adaptive optics to distort light waves.
CAstronomers used the shimmering effect to find distant stars.
DTelescopes used deformable mirrors to see farther into space.
正确答案：A
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