Near real-time speckle imaging for optimization of observing parameters

Images of astronomical objects acquired by ground-based telescopes are blurred by atmospheric turbulence. These blurring effects can be partially overcome by post-detection processing such as speckle imaging (SI). We have developed a parallel implementation of SI to dramatically reduce the time required to reduce imaging data, allowing us to implement a near realtime (NRT) SI image feedback capability. With NRT SI feedback, telescope operators can select observing parameters to optimize data quality while the data is being taken. NRT processing also allows easy selection of the best data from a long observation for later post-detection processing using more sophisticated algorithms. Similar NRT schemes could also be implemented for non-imaging measurements, such as spectroscopy. NRT feedback will yield higher quality data products and better utilization of observatory resources.