Canon Inc. announced that the new TriCCS1 astronomical observation system, which uses Canon's ultra-high-sensitivity image sensors and the Seimei Telescope that was installed at the Okayama Observatory, Kyoto University (Asakuchi City, Okayama Prefecture), will begin operation on August 2, 2021.
The Okayama Observatory, established in 2018, began operation of the Seimei Telescope, designed to observe light from the optical (visible light) to near-infrared wavelength spectra, in February 2019. Since then, astronomers from around the world have utilized the telescope for their own research. The newly implemented TriCCS system is capable of detecting multiple wavelengths of light at high speeds, allowing for the observation of subjects such as dark celestial bodies from far away and bodies that experience rapid and significant changes in brightness.
The TriCCS system utilizes technologies including Canon's LI3030SAM 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor (released in October 2020). The sensor's large 19μm x 19μm (micrometer) pixels enable it to capture images in low-light environments with as little as 0.0005 lux2 of illumination, with reduced signal noise. This problem could commonly occur with larger pixel sizes. In addition, the sensor supports high-speed image capture at up to 98 frames per second (fps).
Using Canon's sensors, the TriCCS system can observe typically difficult-to-capture distant and dark events, including supernovas or subjects that rapidly change in brightness, such as neutron stars and black holes. Canon's ultra-high-sensitivity CMOS sensors are also used by the Tomo-e Gozen system located at the University of Tokyo's Kiso Observatory, helping the system identify and track supernovas within just a few days of their discovery.
Canon will continue to support advances in science through the technological prowess it has cultivated as a leading imaging company.
“The majority of celestial bodies are dark, and therefore observing them requires imaging sensors with high sensitivity and low noise. We chose Canon's LI3030SAM sensors for the TriCCS detectors because it offers these advantages while also delivering 98 fps shooting,” said Kazuya Matsubayashi, program-specific assistant professor,
Okayama Observatory, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University. “Conventional CMOS sensors tend to have low sensitivity, while the LI3030SAM is sensitive enough to detect light near wavelengths of 800 nm, which was an additional reason for us to choose Canon. By leveraging the advantages of Canon's sensors, we hope to observe new celestial bodies and help humanity unlock unknown secrets of the universe. I eagerly await further development by Canon of high-sensitivity, high-pixel-count image sensors.”
About TriCCS
The TriCCS system is able to simultaneously capture three-color (tricolor) images along the visible light and near-infrared light wavelengths. Canon's LI3030SAM and 35MMFHDXSMA ultra-high-sensitivity CMOS sensors (released in March 2019) were selected as devices to detect the brightness of light emitted by celestial bodies. The system employs dichroic mirrors and filters to selectively pass or reflect light on the g band, r band, and i/z band light wavelengths3, and then divides and sends the light to three cameras. The ultra-high-sensitivity CMOS sensors equipped by these three cameras capture the light at high speed, enabling detection of weak light and rapid or brief changes in brightness of celestial bodies. Thanks to the TriCCS system and its ability to capture video of various phenomena in the universe both at high speed and at multiple wavelengths simultaneously, it is now possible to observe scientifically significant moments at the end of a star's lifecycle, including supernovas, neutron stars, and black holes. In doing so, it is expected that the system can help contribute towards uncovering the secrets of the universe and the origins of life itself.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $30.4 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. CAJ, ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2020† and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2020. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss
# # #
†Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.
* Specifications and availability are subject to change without notice.
1 TriCCS stands for “Tricolor CMOS Camera and Spectrograph.”
2 Light of a crescent moon is roughly equivalent to 0.01 lux.
3 g band wavelength: 400-550 nm; r band wavelength: 550-690 nm; i band wavelength 690-815 nm; z band wavelength: 815-925 nm. In astronomy, these bands are known collectively. The TriCCS system simultaneously captures three images of either g-, r-, and i-bands, or g-, r-, and z-bands.”
— WebWireID273917 —
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
