ELT Instruments
The planned first- and second-generation instruments are described in ESO's ELT Instrument Overview. Four instruments are currently at the advanced design stage and entering their build phases
- HARMONI: visible/near-IR integral field spectrograph [ESO webpage]
- MICADO: near-IR AO-corrected imager [ESO webpage] & its associated multi-conjugate Adaptive Optics System MORFEO [formerly known as MAORY, ESO webpage]
- METIS: mid-IR imager and spectrograph [ESO webpage]
In addition, phase B design studies are about to start for
- ANDES: visible/near-IR high dispersion spectrograph [formerly HIRES, ESO webpage]
- MOSAIC: visible/near-IR multi-object spectrograph [ESO webpage]
The ELT instrument roadmap also includes the ELT's Planetary Camera and Spectrograph (PCS, formerly known as EPiCS). PCS is currently undergoing R&D carried out under ESO's Technology Development Program and international partner institutes.
UK ELT Instrumentation Programme
The UK, through support from STFC, is participating in the instrument programme for the ELT. This ensures that UK astronomers will benefit from the detailed knowledge of the instruments and therefore be well placed to lead scientific discoveries with the ELT.
Through support from STFC, the UK ELT Instrumentation Programme has coordinated national efforts into development of the ELT's ambitious instruments. In particular, the programme has secured leadership in HARMONI, and well-defined key roles in METIS, ANDES and MOSAIC. We also participate in R&D towards PCS for the integral field spectrograph and extreme adaptive optics.
The UK ELT Programme ensures that UK astronomers benefit from the detailed knowledge of the instruments and therefore will be well placed to lead scientific discoveries with the ELT. The UK was also a major partner in the CANARY pathfinder experiment for laser guide star, multi-object adaptive optics (MOAO), which has used the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope in La Palma.
UK ELT Instrument Contacts
For enquiries and further information regarding ELT instruments with UK involvement:
- HARMONI: Niranjan Thatte
- METIS: Alistair Glasse
- MOSAIC: Simon Morris
- ANDES: Roberto Maiolino / Martin Haehnelt
- PCS: Matthias Tecza