Observation Apparatus and Observation Method

An observation apparatus that observes a particle trapped by a plurality of electrodes extending in a direction crossing a channel formed in a transparent substrate, comprising:

• a camera configured to take an image of an area including the electrodes in the substrate;
• a camera moving mechanism configured to move an imaged area of the camera;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the camera and the camera moving mechanism, wherein
• the control unit includes, as a processing unit implemented on software, the following components;
• an end-electrode detection unit configured to move the camera using the camera moving mechanism and detect an end electrode that is one of the electrodes that is positioned at an upstream or downstream end of the channel, on the basis of a taken image of the camera;
• an adjacent-electrode detection unit configured to move the camera using the camera moving mechanism and detect an adjacent electrode that is adjacent to the end electrode detected by the end-electrode detection unit, on the basis of the taken image of the camera;
• a channel wall detection unit configured to move the camera using the camera moving mechanism and detect a sidewall of the channel by reference to positions of the end electrode and the adjacent electrode;
• and
• an observation position adjustment unit configured to move the camera using the camera moving mechanism and adjust an observation position where the particle is observed, on the basis of the positions of the end electrode, the adjacent electrode, and the sidewall.