FLYEYE family tree, from smart fast cameras to MezzoCielo

TL;DR

This paper introduces the MezzoCielo telescope concept, a novel wide-field optical system using spherical surfaces and liquid optics, capable of covering vast sky areas for astronomical observations.

Contribution

It presents a new class of telescopes with fully spherical optics and liquid-filled surfaces, expanding the field of view significantly compared to previous designs.

Findings

MezzoCielo achieves 10,000 to 20,000 square degrees field of view.

The design utilizes multiple identical cameras with a spherical optical surface.

It advances wide-field telescope technology with a liquid-filled, monocentric optical system.

Abstract

We developed game-changing concepts for meter(s) class very-wide-field telescopes, spanning three orders of magnitude of the covered field of view. Multiple cameras and monocentric systems: from the Smart Fast Cameras (with a quasi-monocentric aperture), through the FlyEye, toward a MezzoCielo concept (both with a truly monocentric aperture). MezzoCielo (or "half of the sky") is the last developed concept for a new class of telescopes. Such a concept is based on a fully spherical optical surface filled with a low refractive index, and high transparency liquid surrounded by multiple identical cameras. MezzoCielo is capable to reach field of views in the range of ten to twenty thousand square degrees.