![Pollux optical layout. The exact sequence in the optical path of the retractable polarimeters and fiber link connections of the OPT and NIR is still to be discussed and what shown here is not representative of the final configuration. -- [astro-ph.IM]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Pollux.png?resize=1200%2C715&ssl=1)
[astro-ph.IM] Pollux is a high-resolution spectrograph and spectropolarimeter (R from 65000 to 100000) covering a spectral range from 100 nm to 1750 nm, proposed by a European consortium to equip […]
Spectrograph
![Simulated HARMONI images of the Galilean satellites (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto) compared to current VLT imaging (50 mas), illustrating the gain in spatial resolution (12 mas) enabled by the ELT for surface characterisation of Solar System bodies. Credit : Olivier Groussin for the Solar System Science group. -- [astro-ph.IM]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/HARMONI.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes
HARMONI@ELT: Instrument Design, Performance, And Science Capabilities
[astro-ph.IM] HARMONI is the integral field spectrograph for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). Designed as the primary workhorse near-infrared spectrograph of the ELT, it will deliver spatially resolved spectroscopy at […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes
ANDES, The High-resolution Spectrograph Oof The ELT: Simulated Performance Of The CORO Module And Overview Of The High-contrast Capabilities For Exoplanet Observations
[astro-ph.IM] We present the simulated performance of the coronagraph (CORO) module for ANDES, the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) high-resolution spectrograph.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
MOSES — The MONET Star and Exoplanet Spectrograph
We introduce MOSES, the new High-Resolution Echelle Spectrograph designated for the 1.2m MONET telescope at McDonald Observatory, Texas, USA.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
The Roasting Marshmallows Program with IGRINS on Gemini South V: Atmosphere of MASCARA-1b is Enriched in Refractory Elements
Ultra-hot Jupiters (UHJs; Teq≳2000 K) enable simultaneous detection of volatile (ice-forming) and refractory (rock-forming) species in planetary atmospheres, providing a powerful diagnostic of planet formation and atmospheric processing.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Two Fabry-Perots and Two Calibration Units for CARMENES
The wavelength calibration and nightly drift measurements for CARMENES (Calar Alto high-Resolution search for M dwarfs with Exoearths with Near-infrared and optical Echelle Spectrographs) are provided by a combination of […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Brown Dwarfs, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gas Giants, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Stellar Cartography
The Pan-Pacific Planet Search — IX. A Menagerie Of Companions Orbiting Evolved Stars
We present resolutions as to the nature of six speculative candidate companions proposed in the final data release of the Pan-Pacific Planet Search, a 6-year radial-velocity survey of 164 southern […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Recent Development In High-precision High-fidelity Spectrographs For Exoplanet Research And Characterization
High-precision high-fidelity spectrographs are the most powerful instruments for exoplanets detection and characterization. The sub-m/s radial-velocity precision, required to detect Earth-mass exoplanets, necessitates tackling all the sources of instrumental and […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Stellar Cartography
A Planetary Illusion’s Funeral: Non-detection of a Gaia DR3 Exoplanet Candidate, and the Role of Intermediate-precision Radial Velocities in Gaia Exoplanet Follow-up
The detection of exoplanets using astrometry has long been an area of interest, but is fraught with challenges. The Gaia mission is fundamentally reshaping this field thanks to its unprecedentedly […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
The Ocean Worlds Science Case For The Pollux Spectropolarimeter
Pollux is a candidate European instrument contribution to the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), designed to advance our understanding of the formation and evolution of cosmic structures in the universe, and […]