Re: Cassini: where are colors and detail?

From: Roger N. Clark (Change username to rnclark) (username_at_qwest.net)
Date: 07/05/04 

Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 14:03:32 -0600

Chris L Peterson wrote:
> On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 00:48:43 -0600, "Roger N. Clark (Change username to
> rnclark)" <username@qwest.net> wrote:
>
>
>>Actually this is not the reason. The main reason not to fly
>>a RGB digital camera sensor is that it would be too limiting
>>to have only 3 colors...
>
>
> You misunderstood me. I said the reason was that color sensors don't provide
> good data, and payload constraints would make it unprofitable to add _another_
> camera to the existing ones just to provide one-shot color images that would be
> of dubious scientific or even aesthetic value. Obviously, a scientific camera
> with selectable filters would have to be flown whether or not a separate color
> camera was provided.

Color RGBG sesnors do provide good data, are linear and are great
scientifically as far as they go. Modern consumer
digital cameras provide excellent color. In fact Popular
Photography in its testing found that the canon 10D has the most
accurate color of any camera tested, film or digital (at the
time they tested). An RGBG sensor would be a great camera
on a mission, and they have been proposed in some instances.
I am not aware, however, if any sensors with the colored RGBG filter
have been space qualified. In a strong radiation environment,
filters often deteriorate. Just so far none have made it into
space. I'm sure it will happen. In my opinion, a high resolution
color RGBG camera plus an imaging spectrometer would be a
spectacular combination (it has been proposed).

Roger

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