Teledyne Vision Solutions recently conducted on-sky observation demos and field tests for their COSMOS-8k camera at the Palomar Observatory. The engineering team required a robust connectivity solution to bridge the physical distance between the telescope dome and the facility’s equipment room.
Extending Connectivity for Large Format Astronomy
The COSMOS-8k is a large-format astronomy camera with an 8120 x 8120 pixel sensor. In observatory settings, the camera is often mounted on the telescope—in this case, a Planewave Instruments PW1000, while the host PC, chillers, and control equipment reside in a separate structure to minimize environmental interference. Standard 15-meter CoaXPress cables are often insufficient for these distances. To solve this, Teledyne deployed the KAYA Instruments CXP-to-Fiber interface, which extends the communication range from meters to kilometers using optical fiber.
Diagram of the COSMOS-8k and KAYA Range Extender at Palomar Observatory. Image Credit: Teledyne Vision Solutions
High-Bandwidth Performance for On-Sky Observation
The field tests utilized the KAYA range extender to transmit data from the camera to the equipment room. The COSMOS-8k requires four CoaXPress channels to operate in 14-bit mode at frame rates exceeding 18 fps. Throughout the observation demo, the KAYA interface maintained robust and reliable communication at full bandwidth (18.3 fps) without data loss. The setup allowed the team to capture extremely large field-of-view images, including detailed exposures of the Andromeda Galaxy.
Based on the success of these tests using both single and multi-mode fibers, Teledyne Vision Solutions utilizes the KAYA Range Extender for observatory setups requiring long-distance transmission.
