Posted 08.13.2009 at 12:32 pm
7 Comments
Everyone In North America, Say Cheese
via Engadget
Have you ever been taking pictures of an entire country from space and thought, "you know what, this is ok, but I want to photograph the entire hemisphere at once,"? Well, with Raytheon's new 16-megapixel infrared sensor, you can.
Or, more precisely, the government can. Designed to work as part of a satellite, the sensor uses 4,096 pixel rows and columns to produce what the company calls, "an 'unblinking eye' over an entire hemisphere."
Now, while that may sound very 1984 to the tin-foil hat crowd, the sensor is primarily designed for missile detection and guidance. So unless you've got some SCUDs in your backyard you're looking to pop off, there aren't many Big Brother applications for this one.
Beyond the defense application, Raytheon also speculates that the sensor could be used for meteorological surveillance, or turned around and pointed at space to serve as an infrared space telescope. That last application is particularly intriguing, as the current Spitzer Space Telescope (the infrared cousin of the Hubble) only has 256 by 256 pixel resolution.
[via Engadget]
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Is it just me or is that a picture of South America..?
It is indeed South America
--GTO--
South America is spinnin around from the right of the picture the main mass in the center i think is Asia because if u look toward the top of the planet u can see a chain of islands which i think is Japan
Never mind i was wrong i was looking at the picture wrong u guys r right that is south america
Wow the technology and abilities of scientists is just outstanding. How beautiful does this photograph look?
Aren’t we the lucky ones? This earth of ours is just indescribable and well worth caring for. To be able to capture the planet in one shot is nothing short a amazing. I recall when young having to take a series of photographs to capture the entire area. Now it is zoom and you have it.
www.traderswarehouse.co.uk
Technology is moving faster than our planet earth. I read these articles and shake my head with absolute amazement and excitement. It is this that changes the way humans eat, live and work. I am impressed and nervous as I would like to believe that technology is used for the good, but often sense it is for the evil too. This is the biggest concern facing the modern world.
www.flyonthewall.uk.com