Instrumentation projects
At MPIA, we develop and build state-of-the-art astronomical instruments for large optical telescopes. Our focus is on near-infrared instrumentation. Here is a list of all projects with MPIA involvement - often as part of international consortia.
Ground-based instrumentation
Main projects
Overview of the most recent instrumentation projects with MPIA involvement. The instruments CARMENES, GRAVITY, LUCI, MATISSE, SPHERE are operational, PANIC is undergoing an upgrade. The remainder of the instruments is under development.
4-metre Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope – for ESO/VISTA.
Contact scientist at MPIA: Maria Bergemann/Wolfgang Gässler
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Advanced Rayleigh guided Ground layer adaptive Optics System, the laser guide star system for the LBT.
Contact Scientist at MPIA: Wolfgang Gässler
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Calar Alto high-Resolution search for M dwarfs with Exoearths with Near-infrared and optical Échelle Spectrographs – for the Calar Alto 3.5m telescope
Contact scientist at MPIA: Ralf Launhardt/Martin Kürster
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The Universe in Motion. Precision Astrometry with the ESO/VLTI.
Contact scientist at MPIA: Wolfgang Brandner
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Interferometric NIR camera at the LBT.
Contact scientist at MPIA: Tom Herbst (PI)
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LBT NIR spectroscopic Utility with Camera and Integral-Field Unit for Extragalactic Research, two NIR spectrographs for the LBT; LUCI-1 and LUCI-2, operational.
Contact scientist at MPIA: Roland Gredel
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Local Volume Mapper (South) of the SDSS-V for the Las Campanas observatory.
Contact scientist at MPIA: Thomas Herbst
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A mid-infrared imaging spectro-interferometer for the ESO/VLT.
Contact scientist at MPIA: Thomas Henning
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The Mid-Infrared E-ELT Imager and Spectrograph
Contact scientist at MPIA: Markus Feldt
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Multi-AO Imaging Camera for Deep Observations at the E-ELT.
Contact Scientist at MPIA: Jörg-Uwe Pott
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NOT Transient Explorer for the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT).
Contact Scientist at MPIA: Martin Kürster
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PAnoramic Near-Infrared Camera for the Calar Alto 2.2m telescope.
Contact scientist at MPIA: Klaus Meisenheimer (PI)
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High-Contrast Adaptive Optics Instrument for finding and observing extra-solar Planets – for the ESO/VLT.
Contact scientist at MPIA: Markus Feldt
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