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Massive telescope in Hawaii will be used by researchers from around the world

The researchers from three UK universities will jointly use a superior telescope located on the island of Maui to help locate possible Earth-threatening asteroids. Researchers from Queen's University, the University of Durham and the University of Edinburgh have all signed an agreement to use the the Pan-STARRS telescope. Since many telescopes are able to monitor large asteroids that could potentially impact Earth, this specialized team will look for asteroids that are under 1 kilometer in diameter.

Researchers will also use a large digital camera to help take snapshots of the universe. Activities such as producing three-dimensional maps of galaxies, discovering how galaxies evolved, and searching for exploding stars are some of the long-term jobs for the Pan-STARRS. Some astronomers believe the telescope will be able to help discover millions of new stars and galaxies.

The Pan-STARRS observatory has four 1.8-meter imaging mirrors feeding all recorded data into a 1.4 billion-megabyte camera. One night of recorded data will be "several terabytes" in size. Astronomers from the University of Hawaii helped develop the telescope. It is scheduled to become fully operational sometime in 2007.

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I dunno...
By ThisSpaceForRent on 10/10/2006 2:09:16 PM , Rating: 4
*Insert lame joke about using the telescope to view Uranus here*

I don’t know about this project. I mean it's all well, and good, to search for asteroids that may threaten Earth, but, lacking an effective means to stop said asteroids, I would rather live in ignorant bliss. I can just see the news broadcasts if they were to find something. "Giant asteroid streaking towards Earth. Top scientists say, "We're boned". More at 10."




RE: I dunno...
By muffins on 10/10/2006 2:17:38 PM , Rating: 2
but they did stop one in armageddon....and thats like the most realistic movie ever lol


RE: I dunno...
By Schadenfroh on 10/10/2006 2:23:32 PM , Rating: 2
It depends how early you catch them. If we can find one that is 50 years away from hitting us, it gives us time to think up something to do about it.


RE: I dunno...
By retrospooty on 10/10/2006 2:45:44 PM , Rating: 2
True, but the last majorly devastating one hit 65 million years ago... Give us a hundred more years and our tech will be ready with a few weeks notice easily... look at us 100 years ago vs today, another 100 years is a long time, and we likely have many millions of years to spare.


What is a 1.4 billion megabyte camera?
By s12033722 on 10/10/2006 2:59:02 PM , Rating: 3
I assume you mean to quote a resolution or bit depth for the camera? A data size doesn't make much sense...




By bobsmith1492 on 10/10/2006 3:05:06 PM , Rating: 2
1.4 billion megabytes per picture??? Whoa...


RE: What is a 1.4 billion megabyte camera?
By PrinceGaz on 10/10/2006 8:05:12 PM , Rating: 2
http://pan-starrs.ifa.hawaii.edu/public/

It is (or will be) 1.4 billion pixels.


By ted61 on 10/11/2006 12:04:27 PM , Rating: 2
Nice link. So now they are up to a 1.4 gigabit (or is it gigapixel?) camera. I hope it is a fast and light as my 1.4 megabit.

I don't grasp the details but I can't wait for the pictures to come out.


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