# planetary scanner

> type of image scanner for making scans of rare books and other easily damaged documents

**Wikidata**: [Q4364437](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4364437)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_scanner)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/planetary-scanner

## Summary
A planetary scanner is a specialized type of image scanner designed to create digital copies of rare books and other fragile documents without physical contact. It is optimized for handling delicate materials that cannot be fed through conventional scanners.

## Key Facts
- **Class**: Subclass of image scanner
- **Aliases**: Orbital scanner
- **Freebase ID**: /m/08c4wy
- **Wikipedia Title**: Planetary scanner
- **Wikipedia Languages**: English, Italian, Russian
- **Sitelink Count**: 3
- **Primary Function**: Scanning rare books and easily damaged documents

## FAQs
### Q: Why are planetary scanners used for rare books?
A: Planetary scanners are used for rare books because they allow scanning without physical contact, preventing damage to fragile bindings, pages, or delicate materials that cannot withstand the pressure or feeding mechanisms of conventional scanners.

### Q: How does a planetary scanner differ from a flatbed scanner?
A: Unlike flatbed scanners which require placing the document face down on a glass surface, planetary scanners use an overhead camera system to capture images while the document remains flat and stationary, eliminating contact pressure.

### Q: What types of documents benefit most from planetary scanning?
A: Rare books, ancient manuscripts, historical maps, photographs, artworks, and any other fragile or valuable documents susceptible to damage from handling or pressure benefit most from planetary scanning.

## Why It Matters
Planetary scanners play a crucial role in cultural heritage preservation and digitization. By enabling the non-contact scanning of fragile materials, they allow institutions like libraries, archives, and museums to create high-quality digital surrogates of irreplaceable items. This reduces the need for physical handling of originals, minimizing wear and tear and ensuring long-term access to cultural and historical knowledge. The technology democratizes access to rare collections by making them available online while safeguarding the physical integrity of the artifacts themselves.

## Notable For
- **Non-Contact Scanning**: Captures images without the document touching any scanning surface, crucial for fragile materials.
- **Specialized Application**: Primarily designed for rare books and easily damaged documents, unlike general-purpose scanners.
- **Overhead Imaging**: Uses a camera positioned above the document, contrasting with the contact-based scanning of flatbed devices.
- **Preservation Focus**: Explicitly developed to solve the problem of digitizing delicate items without causing damage.

## Body
### Definition and Classification
A planetary scanner is a specific type of image scanner. It is classified as a subclass of the broader image scanner category. Its primary purpose is the digitization of rare books and other documents that are easily damaged.

### Purpose and Application
The core function of a planetary scanner is to create scans of rare books and other easily damaged documents. This makes it essential for institutions handling fragile cultural heritage materials like ancient manuscripts, historical maps, photographs, and artworks where physical contact could cause irreparable harm.

### Technical Characteristics
- **Scanning Method**: Utilizes an overhead camera system to capture images of the document surface.
- **Document Handling**: The document remains flat and stationary during scanning, avoiding any physical pressure or contact with a moving platen.
- **Specialization**: Designed specifically for the challenges posed by fragile, bound, or oversized materials that cannot be processed through conventional scanners.

### Distinction from Other Scanners
Unlike flatbed scanners, which require placing the document face down on a glass surface, planetary scanners operate from above. This overhead, non-contact approach is fundamental to their design and purpose, distinguishing them from other image scanner types.