PLANETCAM
Spain
The Earth’s atmosphere makes it difficult to obtain sharp images of celestial objects and, while observation from space would be the best solution to eliminate atmospheric effect, the cost is elevated, therefore ground-based observatories need to find alternative techniques.
The camera which has been designed and manufactured by IDOM, in collaboration with the Planetary Science Group at the University of the Basque Country, has introduced a series of technologies to produce high-resolution images and short films of phenomena in the short term, for example, the impact of meteorites and meteorological phenomena (storms) on Saturn or Jupiter.
IDOM has designed and manufactured a high-technology camera capable of acquiring high-resolution images of the Universe.
The secret to obtaining these results has been the use of extremely fast, highly sensitive detectors, along with a processor that combines thousands of frames to produce the desired image.
In late July 2012, the new camera was mounted on the 1.23 m telescope of the German-Spanish Astronomical Centre (CAHA, Calar Alto Observatory), to be tested and capture the first images for scientific purposes. Observations included planets such as Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter and Venus, among other celestial objects.
The design of the camera also provides for its adaptation to telescopes of The School of Engineering of Bilbao (ETSIB) and the Pic du Midi centre in France
CLIENT:
UPV-EHU University of the Basque Country
SCOPE:
Design and Manufacturing
