UK SuperWASP initiative

[I, Brian]

An ambitious project to seek planets outside the solar system is being spearheaded by UK scientists. The ground breaking SuperWASP initiative is being launched by a team of astronomers at an observatory in the Canary Islands on Friday.

The programme, which involves a network of cameras around the world, will measure the brightness of 50 million stars every night.

The prototype WASP camera was developed at Queen's University, Belfast.

Dr Don Pollacco of the university's Astorphysics and Planetary Science Division built the £400,000 camera.

"While the construction and initial commissioning phases of the facility have taken only nine months, SuperWASP represents the culmination of many years work from astronomers within the WASP consortium," said Dr Pollacco.


One of the main features of the project is its CCD cameras which were produced in Belfast and can operate in conditions of very low light.

The instrument, which is now entering its operational phase, will eventually be capable of running under robotic control.


More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3629887.stm