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1.4 Billion Pixel Camera To Watch For Asteroids

Posted by timothy on from the one-last-hawaiian-vacation dept.

SpaceSlug writes "The world's largest digital camera is to be used to keep an eye out for asteroids heading towards Earth. The Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) has been built by researchers at MIT's Lincoln Lab. At its heart is a 1.4 billion pixel (or 1400 megapixel) camera that will scan the night sky looking for rogue near-Earth objects from atop Mount Haleakala in Maui Island, Hawaii. The system uses something called an orthogonal transfer CCD to remove atmospheric blur from images."

2 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. Singularity by Sybert42 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    You have to remember that the Singularity will happen soon. Any calculations of risk must be compared with the time to Singularity. Any asteroid hit must only be compared to the effect on progress to the Singularity.

  2. Blah... by rodrigoandrade · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Wake me up when Apple puts it in the next iPhone.