Frequently asked questions about the "SORAMAME" app

What is "Interval", "Rate" and "Threshold" on the display?

"Interval" is the time between the detection of the previous cosmic ray candidate and the latest candidate.

"Rate" indicates the frequency at which cosmic ray candidate events are detected. This frequency helps distinguish between noise and actual cosmic ray detections, as the frequency of cosmic rays observed on the ground is known. The threshold is automatically adjusted to maintain a normal level of the Rate.

"Threshold" is the brightness level threshold, ranging from 0 to 255, used to differentiate between noise and signals. For example, if the threshold is set to 30, candidates with brightness levels from 0 to 30 are considered noise and will not be counted. A lower threshold allows for the detection of more cosmic rays.

Is there a function to save the detected images ?

You cannot save images within the app or to your smartphone's photo gallery, but detected images can be viewed in real-time on the server. By tapping the graph icon in the upper right corner of the app screen, you can see a list of detected images and a time-series frequency graph.

Do I need to allow location access to use this App ?

Access to location information is not mandatory. You can still observe cosmic rays without granting permission. However, we highly recommend enabling location services where possible. This project aims to observe air showers caused by cosmic rays, which can be detected across several kilometers simultaneously. While air showers observed via camera sensors have yet to be recorded anywhere in the world, successfully capturing such an event would be a significant breakthrough. Therefore, we kindly ask that you allow location access for observation.