Introduction

On 2000 May 12 and 13, high frame-rate observations of bright stars were undertaken at the NOT in order to to obtain experimental verification of the Lucky Exposures method and test its applicability to astronomical observations. These observations were designed to investigate the timescales appropriate for Lucky Exposures and the image quality which could be obtained using the technique. Results from the observations are presented in this chapter. Some of the results presented here were previously published by the author and collaborators in Baldwin et al. (2001).

The short exposure Strehl ratios obtained at the NOT will be compared with theoretical predictions, and the image quality obtained using different exposure selection criteria for the Lucky Exposures method will be investigated.

The chapter will begin with a discussion of the background to the experimental measurements, and the practical implementation of the Lucky Exposures method to the experimental data taken at the NOT.