First data from ESPRESSO

First data from ESPRESSO

This bright image demonstrates the spectral information of an ESPRESSO instrument on a Very Large Telescope (Chile). The light from the star is diffused into the colors of the components. This view was not stained to indicate how the wavelengths change. A number of dark spectral lines can be considered, as well as irregular double spots from a calibration light source.

Spectrograph ESPRESSO successfully passed the first tests. This device was installed on the Very Large Telescope (Chile). His task is to search for exoplanets by identifying minor changes in starlight. Soon the instrument will be able to sum up the light from all four telescopes and will reach the highest power on a 16-meter telescope.

This is a third-generation spectrograph, replacing the HARPS La Silla Observatory. HARPS achieves an accuracy of 1 m / s when measuring speed, and ESPRESSO tries to approach several cm / s. This project is the result of 10 years of work and the evolution of previous tools.

ESPRESSO is able to capture tiny changes in stellar spectra, hinting at the presence of planetary objects. This radial velocity method works because the planetary gravitational pull affects the host star, causing it to sway slightly. The smaller the massiveness of the planet, the weaker the fluctuations. Therefore, to search for rocky objects you need a device with high accuracy. Test observations checked already known systems. Then this data was compared with the HARPs and found that ESPRESSO gets the same results with less time.

The main goal of ESPRESSO is the evolution of the search for exoplanets and the characterization of low-mass planets and their atmospheres. It is planned that ESPRESSO will become a powerful tool that can check whether the physical constants in the Universe have changed.

When the Extremely Large Telescope is on the market, the HIRES device will allow you to find even more tiny and light exoplanets. While he is at the conceptual design stage.

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