Rapid advances have been made in recent years in the technology of detecting and analyzing optical emissions from the upper atmosphere, to yield physical parameters related to the photochemistry and dynamics of the region. The charge-coupled device (CCD) allows the simultaneous measurement of many wavelengths with higher sensitivity than photomultipliers, and with computer control and digital readout of data into memory, the amount of information now retrievable on upper atmosphere emissions is around two order of magnitude greater than previously. As part of the CEDAR (Coupling, Energetics and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions) program, A new spectrograph has been constructed utilizing CCD technology. The unit also includes several small imagers, that provide monochromatic images of structures (such as auroral forms) that the spectrograph is being directed toward. Several campaigns of observations of upper atmosphere emissions are planned in conjunction with investigators from other institutions, and a similar instrument is to make observations from orbit, so that simultaneous ground and satellite observations of the same volume of space will be possible.
