Optical Microscopy (MECA OM)

See also Camera Overview

See also Imaging Product Naming

The MECA-OM is a single fixed-focus 6:1 magnification (4 micrometer/pixel) camera in a dark enclosure that provides imaging primarily at a working distance of 13.9 microns. It will be used to analyze small grains of regolith (< 100 micrometers) from either RA excavations or airfall. It also provides context images for the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The CCD spectral bandpass cuts off at approximately 450 nm on the short wavelength end and above 1000 nm at the long end.

MECA-OM optics characteristics useful in the analysis of EDR and RDR products are described in Table 1 below:

Table 1 – MECA-OM Optics Characteristics

Except for fluorescence experiments, the practical spectral wavelength is determined by the LED illumination system, four LED’s centered at 637 nm (red), 524 nm (green), 467 nm (blue) and 375 nm (UV). The UV LED is filtered such that the central wavelength does not drift appreciably with temperature. LED bandpasses are shown in Table 2 below:

Table 2 – MECA-OM Bandpasses

Source: Camera EDR and RDR SIS