MOONS: A multi-object optical and near-infrared spectrograph for the VLT

Michele Cirasuolo; J. Afonso; R. Bender; P. Bonifacio; C. Evans; L. Kaper; E. Oliva; L. Vanzi; M. Abreu; E. Atad-Ettedgui; C. Babusiaux; F. Bauer; P. Best; N. Bezawada; I. Bryson; A. Cabral; K. Caputi; M. Centrone; F. Chemla; A. Cimatti; M. R. Cioni; G. Clementini; J. Coelho; E. Daddi; J. Dunlop; S. Feltzing; A. Ferguson; H. Flores; A. Fontana; J. Fynbo; B. Garilli; A. Glauser; I. Guinouard; F. Hammer; P. Hastings; A. Hess; R. Ivison; P. Jagourel; M. Jarvis; G. Kauffman; A. Lawrence; D. Lee; G. Licausi; S. Lilly; D. Lorenzetti; R. Maiolino; F. Mannucci; R. McLure; D. Minniti; D. Montgomery; B. Muschielok; K. Nandra; R. Navarro; P. Norberg; L. Origlia; N. Padilla; J. Peacock; F. Pedicini; L. Pentericci; J. Pragt; M. Puech; S. Randich; A. Renzini; N. Ryde; M. Rodrigues; F. Royer; R. Saglia; A. Sanchez; H. Schnetler; D. Sobral; R. Speziali; S. Todd; E. Tolstoy; M. Torres; L. Venema; F. Vitali; M. Wegner; M. Wells; V. Wild; G. Wright

doi:10.1117/12.925871

MOONS: A multi-object optical and near-infrared spectrograph for the VLT

Michele Cirasuolo, J. Afonso, R. Bender, P. Bonifacio, C. Evans, L. Kaper, E. Oliva, L. Vanzi, M. Abreu, E. Atad-Ettedgui, C. Babusiaux, F. Bauer, P. Best, N. Bezawada, I. Bryson, A. Cabral, K. Caputi, M. Centrone, F. Chemla, A. CimattiM. R. Cioni, G. Clementini, J. Coelho, E. Daddi, J. Dunlop, S. Feltzing, A. Ferguson, H. Flores, A. Fontana, J. Fynbo, B. Garilli, A. Glauser, I. Guinouard, F. Hammer, P. Hastings, A. Hess, R. Ivison, P. Jagourel, M. Jarvis, G. Kauffman, A. Lawrence, D. Lee, G. Licausi, S. Lilly, D. Lorenzetti, R. Maiolino, F. Mannucci, R. McLure, D. Minniti, D. Montgomery, B. Muschielok, K. Nandra, R. Navarro, P. Norberg, L. Origlia, N. Padilla, J. Peacock, F. Pedicini, L. Pentericci, J. Pragt, M. Puech, S. Randich, A. Renzini, N. Ryde, M. Rodrigues, F. Royer, R. Saglia, A. Sanchez, H. Schnetler, D. Sobral, R. Speziali, S. Todd, E. Tolstoy, M. Torres, L. Venema, F. Vitali, M. Wegner, M. Wells, V. Wild, G. Wright

Exact Sciences School

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

MOONS is a new conceptual design for a Multi-Object Optical and Near-infrared Spectrograph for the Very Large Telescope (VLT), selected by ESO for a Phase A study. The baseline design consists of ∼1000 fibers deployable over a field of view of ∼500 square arcmin, the largest patrol field offered by the Nasmyth focus at the VLT. The total wavelength coverage is 0.8μm-1.8μm and two resolution modes: medium resolution and high resolution. In the medium resolution mode (R∼4,000-6,000) the entire wavelength range 0.8μm-1.8μm is observed simultaneously, while the high resolution mode covers simultaneously three selected spectral regions: one around the CaII triplet (at R∼8,000) to measure radial velocities, and two regions at R∼20,000 one in the J-band and one in the H-band, for detailed measurements of chemical abundances. The grasp of the 8.2m Very Large Telescope (VLT) combined with the large multiplex and wavelength coverage of MOONS - extending into the near-IR - will provide the observational power necessary to study galaxy formation and evolution over the entire history of the Universe, from our Milky Way, through the redshift desert and up to the epoch of re-ionization at z>8-9. At the same time, the high spectral resolution mode will allow astronomers to study chemical abundances of stars in our Galaxy, in particular in the highly obscured regions of the Bulge, and provide the necessary follow-up of the Gaia mission. Such characteristics and versatility make MOONS the long-awaited workhorse near-IR MOS for the VLT, which will perfectly complement optical spectroscopy performed by FLAMES and VIMOS.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925871
Publication status	Published - 2012
Event	Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV - Amsterdam, Netherlands Duration: 1 Jul 2012 → 6 Jul 2012

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	8446
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X

Other

Other	Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV
Country/Territory	Netherlands
City	Amsterdam
Period	1/07/12 → 6/07/12

Keywords

Evolution; stellar content
Instrumentation
VLT spectrograph - Galaxies

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Condensed Matter Physics
Computer Science Applications
Applied Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1117/12.925871

Cite this

Cirasuolo, M., Afonso, J., Bender, R., Bonifacio, P., Evans, C., Kaper, L., Oliva, E., Vanzi, L., Abreu, M., Atad-Ettedgui, E., Babusiaux, C., Bauer, F., Best, P., Bezawada, N., Bryson, I., Cabral, A., Caputi, K., Centrone, M., Chemla, F., ... Wright, G. (2012). MOONS: A multi-object optical and near-infrared spectrograph for the VLT. In Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV Article 84460S (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 8446). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925871

@inproceedings{2c25d5fc43e54732bec84cf8dbebdcec,

title = "MOONS: A multi-object optical and near-infrared spectrograph for the VLT",

abstract = "MOONS is a new conceptual design for a Multi-Object Optical and Near-infrared Spectrograph for the Very Large Telescope (VLT), selected by ESO for a Phase A study. The baseline design consists of ∼1000 fibers deployable over a field of view of ∼500 square arcmin, the largest patrol field offered by the Nasmyth focus at the VLT. The total wavelength coverage is 0.8μm-1.8μm and two resolution modes: medium resolution and high resolution. In the medium resolution mode (R∼4,000-6,000) the entire wavelength range 0.8μm-1.8μm is observed simultaneously, while the high resolution mode covers simultaneously three selected spectral regions: one around the CaII triplet (at R∼8,000) to measure radial velocities, and two regions at R∼20,000 one in the J-band and one in the H-band, for detailed measurements of chemical abundances. The grasp of the 8.2m Very Large Telescope (VLT) combined with the large multiplex and wavelength coverage of MOONS - extending into the near-IR - will provide the observational power necessary to study galaxy formation and evolution over the entire history of the Universe, from our Milky Way, through the redshift desert and up to the epoch of re-ionization at z>8-9. At the same time, the high spectral resolution mode will allow astronomers to study chemical abundances of stars in our Galaxy, in particular in the highly obscured regions of the Bulge, and provide the necessary follow-up of the Gaia mission. Such characteristics and versatility make MOONS the long-awaited workhorse near-IR MOS for the VLT, which will perfectly complement optical spectroscopy performed by FLAMES and VIMOS.",

keywords = "Evolution; stellar content, Instrumentation, VLT spectrograph - Galaxies",

author = "Michele Cirasuolo and J. Afonso and R. Bender and P. Bonifacio and C. Evans and L. Kaper and E. Oliva and L. Vanzi and M. Abreu and E. Atad-Ettedgui and C. Babusiaux and F. Bauer and P. Best and N. Bezawada and I. Bryson and A. Cabral and K. Caputi and M. Centrone and F. Chemla and A. Cimatti and Cioni, {M. R.} and G. Clementini and J. Coelho and E. Daddi and J. Dunlop and S. Feltzing and A. Ferguson and H. Flores and A. Fontana and J. Fynbo and B. Garilli and A. Glauser and I. Guinouard and F. Hammer and P. Hastings and A. Hess and R. Ivison and P. Jagourel and M. Jarvis and G. Kauffman and A. Lawrence and D. Lee and G. Licausi and S. Lilly and D. Lorenzetti and R. Maiolino and F. Mannucci and R. McLure and D. Minniti and D. Montgomery and B. Muschielok and K. Nandra and R. Navarro and P. Norberg and L. Origlia and N. Padilla and J. Peacock and F. Pedicini and L. Pentericci and J. Pragt and M. Puech and S. Randich and A. Renzini and N. Ryde and M. Rodrigues and F. Royer and R. Saglia and A. Sanchez and H. Schnetler and D. Sobral and R. Speziali and S. Todd and E. Tolstoy and M. Torres and L. Venema and F. Vitali and M. Wegner and M. Wells and V. Wild and G. Wright",

year = "2012",

doi = "10.1117/12.925871",

language = "English",

isbn = "9780819491473",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

booktitle = "Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV",

note = "Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV ; Conference date: 01-07-2012 Through 06-07-2012",

}

Cirasuolo, M, Afonso, J, Bender, R, Bonifacio, P, Evans, C, Kaper, L, Oliva, E, Vanzi, L, Abreu, M, Atad-Ettedgui, E, Babusiaux, C, Bauer, F, Best, P, Bezawada, N, Bryson, I, Cabral, A, Caputi, K, Centrone, M, Chemla, F, Cimatti, A, Cioni, MR, Clementini, G, Coelho, J, Daddi, E, Dunlop, J, Feltzing, S, Ferguson, A, Flores, H, Fontana, A, Fynbo, J, Garilli, B, Glauser, A, Guinouard, I, Hammer, F, Hastings, P, Hess, A, Ivison, R, Jagourel, P, Jarvis, M, Kauffman, G, Lawrence, A, Lee, D, Licausi, G, Lilly, S, Lorenzetti, D, Maiolino, R, Mannucci, F, McLure, R, Minniti, D, Montgomery, D, Muschielok, B, Nandra, K, Navarro, R, Norberg, P, Origlia, L, Padilla, N, Peacock, J, Pedicini, F, Pentericci, L, Pragt, J, Puech, M, Randich, S, Renzini, A, Ryde, N, Rodrigues, M, Royer, F, Saglia, R, Sanchez, A, Schnetler, H, Sobral, D, Speziali, R, Todd, S, Tolstoy, E, Torres, M, Venema, L, Vitali, F, Wegner, M, Wells, M, Wild, V & Wright, G 2012, MOONS: A multi-object optical and near-infrared spectrograph for the VLT. in Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV., 84460S, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 8446, Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1/07/12. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925871

MOONS: A multi-object optical and near-infrared spectrograph for the VLT. / Cirasuolo, Michele; Afonso, J.; Bender, R. et al.
Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV. 2012. 84460S (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 8446).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - MOONS

T2 - Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV

AU - Cirasuolo, Michele

AU - Afonso, J.

AU - Bender, R.

AU - Bonifacio, P.

AU - Evans, C.

AU - Kaper, L.

AU - Oliva, E.

AU - Vanzi, L.

AU - Abreu, M.

AU - Atad-Ettedgui, E.

AU - Babusiaux, C.

AU - Bauer, F.

AU - Best, P.

AU - Bezawada, N.

AU - Bryson, I.

AU - Cabral, A.

AU - Caputi, K.

AU - Centrone, M.

AU - Chemla, F.

AU - Cimatti, A.

AU - Cioni, M. R.

AU - Clementini, G.

AU - Coelho, J.

AU - Daddi, E.

AU - Dunlop, J.

AU - Feltzing, S.

AU - Ferguson, A.

AU - Flores, H.

AU - Fontana, A.

AU - Fynbo, J.

AU - Garilli, B.

AU - Glauser, A.

AU - Guinouard, I.

AU - Hammer, F.

AU - Hastings, P.

AU - Hess, A.

AU - Ivison, R.

AU - Jagourel, P.

AU - Jarvis, M.

AU - Kauffman, G.

AU - Lawrence, A.

AU - Lee, D.

AU - Licausi, G.

AU - Lilly, S.

AU - Lorenzetti, D.

AU - Maiolino, R.

AU - Mannucci, F.

AU - McLure, R.

AU - Minniti, D.

AU - Montgomery, D.

AU - Muschielok, B.

AU - Nandra, K.

AU - Navarro, R.

AU - Norberg, P.

AU - Origlia, L.

AU - Padilla, N.

AU - Peacock, J.

AU - Pedicini, F.

AU - Pentericci, L.

AU - Pragt, J.

AU - Puech, M.

AU - Randich, S.

AU - Renzini, A.

AU - Ryde, N.

AU - Rodrigues, M.

AU - Royer, F.

AU - Saglia, R.

AU - Sanchez, A.

AU - Schnetler, H.

AU - Sobral, D.

AU - Speziali, R.

AU - Todd, S.

AU - Tolstoy, E.

AU - Torres, M.

AU - Venema, L.

AU - Vitali, F.

AU - Wegner, M.

AU - Wells, M.

AU - Wild, V.

AU - Wright, G.

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - MOONS is a new conceptual design for a Multi-Object Optical and Near-infrared Spectrograph for the Very Large Telescope (VLT), selected by ESO for a Phase A study. The baseline design consists of ∼1000 fibers deployable over a field of view of ∼500 square arcmin, the largest patrol field offered by the Nasmyth focus at the VLT. The total wavelength coverage is 0.8μm-1.8μm and two resolution modes: medium resolution and high resolution. In the medium resolution mode (R∼4,000-6,000) the entire wavelength range 0.8μm-1.8μm is observed simultaneously, while the high resolution mode covers simultaneously three selected spectral regions: one around the CaII triplet (at R∼8,000) to measure radial velocities, and two regions at R∼20,000 one in the J-band and one in the H-band, for detailed measurements of chemical abundances. The grasp of the 8.2m Very Large Telescope (VLT) combined with the large multiplex and wavelength coverage of MOONS - extending into the near-IR - will provide the observational power necessary to study galaxy formation and evolution over the entire history of the Universe, from our Milky Way, through the redshift desert and up to the epoch of re-ionization at z>8-9. At the same time, the high spectral resolution mode will allow astronomers to study chemical abundances of stars in our Galaxy, in particular in the highly obscured regions of the Bulge, and provide the necessary follow-up of the Gaia mission. Such characteristics and versatility make MOONS the long-awaited workhorse near-IR MOS for the VLT, which will perfectly complement optical spectroscopy performed by FLAMES and VIMOS.

AB - MOONS is a new conceptual design for a Multi-Object Optical and Near-infrared Spectrograph for the Very Large Telescope (VLT), selected by ESO for a Phase A study. The baseline design consists of ∼1000 fibers deployable over a field of view of ∼500 square arcmin, the largest patrol field offered by the Nasmyth focus at the VLT. The total wavelength coverage is 0.8μm-1.8μm and two resolution modes: medium resolution and high resolution. In the medium resolution mode (R∼4,000-6,000) the entire wavelength range 0.8μm-1.8μm is observed simultaneously, while the high resolution mode covers simultaneously three selected spectral regions: one around the CaII triplet (at R∼8,000) to measure radial velocities, and two regions at R∼20,000 one in the J-band and one in the H-band, for detailed measurements of chemical abundances. The grasp of the 8.2m Very Large Telescope (VLT) combined with the large multiplex and wavelength coverage of MOONS - extending into the near-IR - will provide the observational power necessary to study galaxy formation and evolution over the entire history of the Universe, from our Milky Way, through the redshift desert and up to the epoch of re-ionization at z>8-9. At the same time, the high spectral resolution mode will allow astronomers to study chemical abundances of stars in our Galaxy, in particular in the highly obscured regions of the Bulge, and provide the necessary follow-up of the Gaia mission. Such characteristics and versatility make MOONS the long-awaited workhorse near-IR MOS for the VLT, which will perfectly complement optical spectroscopy performed by FLAMES and VIMOS.

KW - Evolution; stellar content

KW - Instrumentation

KW - VLT spectrograph - Galaxies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84871992566&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1117/12.925871

DO - 10.1117/12.925871

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:84871992566

SN - 9780819491473

T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

BT - Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV

Y2 - 1 July 2012 through 6 July 2012

ER -

MOONS: A multi-object optical and near-infrared spectrograph for the VLT

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