Ridiculous names for super serious scientific instruments: camera edition

Absurd names for cameras and imagers, ranked
This composite image (X-rays from Chandra in red, optical data in green, and radio emission in blue) shows NGC 1068, one of the nearest and brightest spiral galaxies containing a rapidly growing supermassive black hole. The X-ray images and spectra obtained using Chandra's High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer show that a strong wind is being driven away from the center of NGC 1068 at a rate of about a million miles per hour. These results help explain how an "average"-sized supermassive black hole can alter the evolution of its host galaxy. Chandra X-ray Observatory Center

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Scientists can’t resist giving absurd names to even the most serious, expensive instruments. If you think there are some silly telescope names out there, just check out the acronyms researchers are choosing for cameras and imagers.

LUCIFER - LBT near-infrared spectroscopic Utility with Camera and Integral Field unit for Extragalactic Research
DAZLE - Dark Ages Z (redshift) Lyman-alpha Explorer
EPIC - Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera
FORCAST Faint Object infraRed CAmera for the SOFIA Telescope
MONICA, MOSAIC (pictured here), and MIRLIN

Popular Science is looking for the best-named scientific instruments. We’re concentrating on physical devices, rather than algorithms, surveys, systems, or processes—which means amazing names like GANDALF (Gas AND Absorption Line Fitting algorithm) and GADZOOKS! (Gadolinium Antineutrino Detector Zealously Outperforming Old Kamiokande, Super!) won’t make the cut.

 

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