How NASA's HAWC+ camera maps space

How moth eyes revolutionized the way we see in the dark

Chapter 1

The secret of the night flyer

Chapter 2

Physics of the perfect cloak

Chapter 3

Night vision and deep space

YOUR GOAL

Master of How moth eyes revolutionized the way we see in the dark

Ch 3 · Night vision and deep space

007skaty Stealth optics and night vision technology.

007skaty Moth-Eye Space Camera Sensors

Spikes like a moth's eye trap the infrared light, To map magnetic fields in the deep cosmic night.

To see clearly into the dark, we must stop reflecting our own light.

007skaty NASA's HAWC+ camera maps magnetic fields in deep space.

Night vision and stealth optics

007skaty Standard lenses reflect sun and streetlights to betray tactical positions, but moth-eye technology absorbs incoming light to maintain

How NASA's HAWC+ camera maps space

007skaty Tiny silicon spikes on a space camera sensor capture glowing cosmic infrared rays

Moth Eye Star Finder

BETA

007skaty Align moth eye nanostructures to discover how anti-glare lenses help telescopes see distant stars.

Fun Fact

Self-cleaning tech: Because moth-eye structures are so tiny, they naturally repel water and dirt, meaning future solar panels might clean themselves.

Glossary

bolometer (noun)
An instrument that measures electromagnetic radiation by detecting temperature-dependent changes in electrical resistance. In 2016, NASA utilized moth-eye-inspired bolometers to study star formation and galactic magnetic fields.

Gossip

Where is moth-eye tech most useful?

Quiz

Which company developed moth-eye films to prevent face shields from fogging?

007skaty Designing silicon lenses to capture infrared light from deep space

Quiz

Why must infrared telescopes like SOFIA operate at high altitudes?

007skaty Moth-eye nanostructures create self-cleaning and anti-fog surfaces.

Quiz

What astronomical feature did the HAWC+ camera map at the center of our galaxy?

Quiz

How do moth-eye lenses improve military night-vision and surveillance gear?

Quiz

Why does untreated silicon pose a problem for infrared telescopes?

Quiz

Which NASA instrument used moth-eye inspired silicon spikes to study the cosmos?

Quiz

What type of sensor uses moth-eye micro-spikes to measure heat radiation?

Quiz

Which physical property makes moth-eye structures naturally repel water?