ARRAKIHS is taking a crucial step forward with the installation of a ground-based demonstrator camera at the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory (OAJ) in Teruel, Spain, set to take place in the coming weeks.
This new instrument will allow scientists to test and refine key imaging technology before it is launched into space. Built by the Spanish company Satlantis Microsats S.A., and acquired by IFCA-CSIC-UC (Institute of Physics of Cantabria), the iSIM-170 binocular camera
will operate in both visible and infrared wavelengths, enabling the
detection of faint galactic structures and stellar remnants with
unprecedented precision.
“This
ground-based demonstrator is a replica of the space camera, allowing us
to test its optical capabilities, develop observation strategies, and
refine data transfer processes before launch,” explains Helena Domínguez Sánchez, ARRAKIHS scientist at IFCA (CSIC-UC).
Observing Galaxies and Their Halos in a Single Shot
One of the camera’s key advantages is its wide field of view, which can capture extensive regions of the sky in a single image. This will allow ARRAKIHS to study nearby galaxies, their halos, and satellite galaxies, focusing on low surface brightness structures—crucial for understanding galaxy interactions and dark matter distribution.
The binocular design allows each lens to be equipped with a different detector, optimizing observations for multiple wavelengths and increasing efficiency. This setup ensures sharp and consistent image quality across the entire field of view, enabling the capture of faint galactic structures and subtle details never observed before.
With this new technology in place, ARRAKIHS is one step closer to unveiling the secrets of dark matter and the evolution of galaxies.
This
purchase has been made possible thanks to funding provided by the State
Research Agency (AEI), as part of an international collaboration
project (PCI2023-143421).
