By Falice Chin
In 2006, students and researchers at the University of Calgary will have access to a new astronomical camera 1,000 times more powerful than any other on the face of Earth.
The Submilimetre Common User Bolometer Array, known as SCUBA-2, received $12.3 million from the Canada Foundation for Inno- vation. The funds were awarded to eight universi- ties, in Canada including the University of Waterloo, the University of British Columbia, Laval University and the U of C.
Currently being built in Edinburgh, Scotland, the development of SCUBA-2 involves many astronomers worldwide, including the U of C’s Dr. Rene Plume from the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
"It is very exciting," commented Dr. Plume. "We will soon be able to see stars in their earliest stages of evolution. And with a lot of the galaxies nearby, [the camera] can pick up huge areas."
Once completed, SCUBA-2 will be installed at the Mauna Kea observatory in Hawaii. With new technology making it more sensitive and 1,000 times more powerful than its predecessor, SCUBA-1, the new camera will speed up celestial observation.
"It will allow researchers to complete in one night what would normally take three years," said Dr. Plume.
The project currently falls exclusively in the hands of experts, however Dr. Plume is positive once SCUBA-2 is installed many students will learn to take advantage of the new equipment.
"It’s the sort that students will be involved," Dr. Plume said. "It will produce many masters and PhD theses."