Scientists in Hawaii are making use of what is considered to be the world's biggest digital camera, in order to locate killer asteroids.

The University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy said on Wednesday that the world is now, a somewhat safer place to live in because of the new 1.8-meter telescope atop Haleakala on Maui.

Pan-STARRS, or Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System, comprises of a 1,400 megapixel digital camera that looks out for objects, which move or see alteration in brightness from one night to the next one.

The telescope that is designed and built by astronomers and engineers at the university has been given over to the PS1 Science Consortium. The grouping comprises of the university and nine other institutions in the U. S., Germany, the United Kingdom and Taiwan.

Developed with financial support coming from the US Air Force, PS1's 1,400-megapixel camera is the world's biggest camera with almost 150 times as many pixels as the standard camera.

It is able to collect thorough images of approximately three-quarters of the night sky from its base in Hawaii.

The project will allow scientists to evaluate broad areas of sky at a rank of detail that was formerly next to impossible.