High-resolution time-lapse space camera closer to action

Bill Gates and ex-Microsoft executive Charles Simonyi have donated a combined $30 million to the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, which will feature the largest digital camera ever constructed. Scientists say it will provide a "color movie" of the universe.

The donation will go partly to the construction of LSST's three giant mirrors, which will enable it to survey more of the sky faster than any other telescope. With its three-billion pixel camera, the telescope will produce 30 terabytes of images that will be immediately available to the public online.

"LSST is truly an internet telescope, which will put terabytes of data each night into the hands of anyone that wants to explore it," said Gates, who donated $10 million to the project. "The 8.4 meter LSST telescope (is) the ultimate network peripheral device to explore the universe."

Read full story in Wired