Supernovae and extragalactic astronomy with laser guide star adaptive
  optics
  Using the latest generation of adaptive optics imaging systems together with
laser guide stars on 8m-class telescopes, we are finally revealing the
previously-hidden population of supernovae in starburst galaxies. Finding these
supernovae and measuring the amount of absorption due to dust is crucial to
being able to accurately trace the star formation history of our Universe. Our
images of the host galaxies are amongst the sharpest ever obtained from the
ground, and reveal much about how and why these galaxies are forming massive
stars (that become supernovae) at such a prodigious rate.
