Exactly so, xoB.
Once our atmospheric distortions are resolved by adaptive optics systems,
other distortions would require explanation and/or involve further research.
Even the governmental funding of the Keck Observatory's installation of
Next Generation of Adaptive Optics (NGAO) equipment was justified, in part,
on the detection and precise measurements of dark matter affecting light
passing by or through
gravitationally lensed galaxies.
(This was only one of a number of top priority studies - described
here)
,