CCD

A CCD (for charge-coupled device ) is a type of electronic device generally used to detect light. It can be made very small and can be manufactured in arrays so that an image focused on the array can be captured as an electronic signal and fed into a computer. Their development and adoption constituted a revolution in astronomy: they are used in telescopes (as well as many digital cameras) where they provide the data in electronic digital form, convenient for image storage and processing, and offering the possibility of automating the whole observation process. They have improved the efficiency of astronomical observation, vastly increasing the number of images captured and their use is advantageous for remote operation of telescopes, including space probes, and for fully-automated surveys.