#FLYEYE: THE ITALIAN TELESCOPE GUARDIAN OF THE PLANET ON ASI MAGAZINE #SPAZIO2050
The FLYEYE (similar to the EYE of a FLY) is a multiple-optics #telescope with an extremely wide field of view ( #FOV) developed by OHB Italia for ESA and ASI as part of the #SSA (Space Situational Awareness) programme. This technology is still under development but it will soon allow us to change the way we look at the sky, more specifically at the increasing number of space objects orbiting around our Planet as space debris and asteroids.
The peculiar feature of the FLYEYE is the large observable area if compared to the traditional telescopes with a narrow field of view. FLYEYE is based on 16 astronomic cameras, “the EYES”, which cover about 45 square degrees.
The telescope was built entirely in OHB Italia’s facilities, it is 6.5m high and 4m wide. It will be installed on #MonteMufara in Sicily at an altitude of 1865m, although it will first stop at the ASI centre in Matera for calibration and tests.
The plan is to have in the future a #network of four FLYEYE telescopes, two for each hemisphere, which will make #Italy the leading Country for #opticalobservations.
The telescope will allow the classification of objects sizing 15cm in #LEO (Low Earth Orbit – up to 2.000km) and 35cm in the #MEO (Medium Earth Orbit – from 10.000 to 20.000km).
In short, a real technological “made in Italy” jewel.
– Read more here below –
www.ohb-italia.it
