The St Thomas The St Thomas University University All-Sky Camera All-Sky Camera James Whitehead James Whitehead Science and Technology Studies, STU Science and Technology Studies, STU Meteorites and Impacts Advisory Committee (MIAC) Meteorites and Impacts Advisory Committee (MIAC) Atlantic Representative to the Canadian Space Atlantic Representative to the Canadian Space Agency Agency President, Science East Association Inc. President, Science East Association Inc. Click the Button to Start the 13-Slide Presentation
Transcript
The St Thomas UniversityThe St Thomas UniversityAll-Sky CameraAll-Sky Camera
James WhiteheadJames WhiteheadScience and Technology Studies, STUScience and Technology Studies, STU
Meteorites and Impacts Advisory Committee (MIAC) Meteorites and Impacts Advisory Committee (MIAC) Atlantic Representative to the Canadian Space Agency Atlantic Representative to the Canadian Space Agency
President, Science East Association Inc.President, Science East Association Inc.
Click the Button to Startthe 13-Slide Presentation
Mounted to the Roof of McCain Hall Mounted to the Roof of McCain Hall (opposite) is an All-Sky Camera(opposite) is an All-Sky Camera
This camera monitors the night sky for meteors, and their larger equivalents, fireballs
• Meteors are generated by tiny sand or ice particles – these generally burn up
• Fireballs are generated by larger chunks of rock, and can make it to the ground as meteorites
• Monitoring fireballs with the camera can help us find the meteorites
A Fireball
The Benton meteorite, The Benton meteorite, fell 1949 near Woodstock, NBfell 1949 near Woodstock, NB
This is the only meteorite to have been found in Atlantic Canada – we hope to improve that record, using the camera
It didn’t arrivePre-labelled
The Camera is controlledThe Camera is controlledfrom the third floor Server Roomfrom the third floor Server Room
Triggering eventsTriggering events
• All fast moving bright objects within 400 km (on a clear night) trigger the camera
• A database of events, with photographs and video, is created
Star maps with the fireball pathStar maps with the fireball pathhelp us define its trajectoryhelp us define its trajectory
Multiple Cameras are needed to Multiple Cameras are needed to define meteorite 3D trajectorydefine meteorite 3D trajectory
(and fall site)(and fall site)
It looks complicated, but it really isn’t!
Fredericton
Halifax
Currently OperationalSt Thomas UniversitySt Mary’s University
Viewing Range (400km)
Miramichi
Sackville
Saint John
Planned for near futureAdditional cameras housed at:French Fort Cove, MiramichiUNB Saint JohnMt Allison University, Sackville
All Controlled fromSt Thomas University!
The Educational Potential The Educational Potential is being developed with is being developed with
Science East & Science East & STU Dept EducationSTU Dept Education
• The cameras will be available online
• Schools can access the data
• Worksheets will be developed Fall 2007 for teachers and students to use
SponsorsSponsors
• Association of Professional Engineers and Geologists of NB (APEGNB) outreach grant
