Does anyone know how this works with our space-based telescopes? Or even our mountain top observatories? Surely if it's this crazy, they have to deal with that as well?
Yes, the electronics, including imaging sensors are all radiation hardened.
This can involve things such as using digital circuits that are radiation resistant (e.g. look up radiation resistant flip flop). Using multiple computers running the same thing that all "vote" for the correct result, so if one computer has an error from radiation you don't suffer. Using semiconductors that are more resistant to radiation (larger band gaps mean more energy required to flip a bit).
Physical shielding is key as well. The infrared imager on the Cassini probe had a case made out of tantalum, as tantalum is a very dense material which prevents a lot of radiation from going through it.
Well one thing they also do is that pretty much any desired image is taken multiple times/multiple exposures, and multiple offset positions in close succession to remove exactly such artifacts. The images are then stacked, etc.
So this allows removal of effects that do not correlate with what is physically should be in the image, but is an artifact of the sensor, image system, etc:
-- sensor artifacts: dead pixels, flat field irregularity, pixel response variations, electronic noise
-- imaging system issues: optical problems, lens/mirror defects
-- and then exactly what's being discussed here: cosmic rays, transient objects (satellite tracks!)
This can involve things such as using digital circuits that are radiation resistant (e.g. look up radiation resistant flip flop). Using multiple computers running the same thing that all "vote" for the correct result, so if one computer has an error from radiation you don't suffer. Using semiconductors that are more resistant to radiation (larger band gaps mean more energy required to flip a bit).
Physical shielding is key as well. The infrared imager on the Cassini probe had a case made out of tantalum, as tantalum is a very dense material which prevents a lot of radiation from going through it.