The ability to get detailed views of distant objects in space is limited by the telescope size, so the sharpest details are usually obtained by linking telescopes together. A UCLA-led team of astronomers has used a device called a photonic lantern on a single telescope to get the most detailed view yet of star beta Canis Minoris. The photonic lantern splits light collected by the telescope into multiple channels based on spatial “mode,” then computational techniques are used to reconstruct a high-resolution image from the photonic lantern outputs. The new approach to imaging will allow astronomers and astrophysicists to view objects that are smaller and more distant than ever before, unlocking answers to some mysteries.