Objective Prism Extraterrestrial
Laser Search

The Pleiades star cluster observed with the SLA objective prism telescope system. Each horizontal streak is the spectrum of a star, including wavelengths 360nm to 1000 nm (left to right; blue to red). Laser emission would appear as a “dot” of one wavelength, validated by appearing in both telescopes at the same point in the sky and the same instant of time within 0.25 seconds.

Video clip of real-time acquisition of objective prism spectra from both telescopes simultaneously, at four frames per second. Field of view is 2deg x 2deg. Laser pulses would appear as a “dot” from both telescopes simultaneously.

Space Laser Awareness technology can detect, track, and obtain spectra of satellites in real time.

Satellites passing within the field of view are detected instantly by their motion. The direction and angular speed of their motion are measurable. LEO, MEO, and GEO satellites are distinguished.

The spectrum of the object is simultaneously acquired with a resolution of lambda/delta-lambda = 100 in each frame.

The Solar Gravitational Lens region of Alpha Centauri. Field of view is 2deg x 2.5 deg, in a 4 minute exposure with 0.28-meter objective prism Schmidt telescope. The hundreds of vertical streaks are stellar spectra. A laser will show as a PSF-shaped dot.

One field station of SLA, with Sagittarius (left), Scorpio (right). The two brightest objects are Saturn (upper left) and Jupiter (upper right).