In 2005 Congress had directed NASA to detect 90% of near-Earth objects that are larger than 140 meters by 2020, of course all this was to ensure gallactical security. In order to achieve this the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy have developed a system that’s called Pan-STARRS (Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System). In short that means it’s a giant digital camera to look skywards and watch for anything headed our way. The camera, built with chips designed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory, is part of a prototype telescope installed in an observatory on Maui's Haleakala Mountain. Its high resolution will improve scientists' ability to detect asteroids and comets at a resolution thats five times better than any current one. The high resolution camera is designed to capture images that are 38,000 by 38,000 pixels in size, or about 200 times larger than you get in a high-end consumer digital camera.

This telescope is the first of four that will be housed together in one dome, the prototype telescope is installed on Haleakala mountain, Maui, will begin operation this December. It will feature the world's largest and most advanced digital camera, using the Lincoln Laboratory silicon chips.

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