Spectro-Polarimetric High-Contrast Exoplanet Research

"SPHERE" redirects here. For other uses, see Sphere (disambiguation).
SPHERE (black container and silver cylinder) attached to the telescope from the adjunct platform

Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (VLT-SPHERE) is an adaptive optics system and coronagraphic facility at the Very Large Telescope (VLT).[1] It provides direct imaging as well as spectroscopic and polarimetric characterization of exoplanet systems. The instrument operates in the visible and near infrared, achieving exquisite image quality and contrast over a small field of view around bright targets.[2]

Results from SPHERE complement those from other planet finder projects, which include HARPS, CoRoT, and the Kepler Mission.[1] The instrument was installed on Unit Telescope "Melipal" (UT3) and achieved first light in May, 2014. At the time of installation, it was the latest of a series of second generation VLT-instruments such as X-shooter, KMOS and MUSE.[3]

  1. ^ a b Beuzit, J. -L.; Vigan, A.; Mouillet, D.; Dohlen, K.; Gratton, R.; et al. (2019). "SPHERE: the exoplanet imager for the Very Large Telescope". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 631: A155. arXiv:1902.04080. Bibcode:2019A&A...631A.155B. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201935251.
  2. ^ "SPHERE Overview". European Southern Observatory. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  3. ^ "First Light for SPHERE Exoplanet Imager". ESO. 4 June 2014.