Acronyms in use in ESO Instrumentation and beyond
The following tables are intended to help you find your way around ESO instrumentation (and possibly even further):
- Current and future ESO instruments
- ESO instrument concepts
- Retired ESO instruments
- Technical acronyms at ESO
- General ESO acronyms
- More (non-ESO) acronyms
Current and future ESO Instruments
| Acronym | meaning | ...on telescope | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMBER | Astronomical Multiple BEam Recombiner | VLTI | |
| CRIRES | CRyogenic high resolution InfraREd Spectrograph | UT1 | |
| EFOSC2 | ESO Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera 2 | NTT | replaced EFOSC |
| FEROS | Fibre-fed Extended Range echelle Spectrograph | 2.2m | |
| FLAMES: - OzPoz - Medusa - Argus - Giraffe |
Fibre Large Area Multi-Element Spectrograph | UT2 | |
| FORS - FIMS - HIT - LADC - LSS - MXU |
FOcal Reducer Spectrograph - FORS Instrumental Mask Simulator - HIgh Time resolution mode (FORS2) - Longitudinal Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector - Long Slit Spectroscopy - Mask eXchange Unit (FORS2) |
FORS2: UT1 | |
| GRAVITY | (VLTI instrument for precision narrow-angle astrometry and interferometric phase referenced imaging of faint objects) | VLTI 2nd generation | in preparation |
| GROND | Gamma-Ray burst Optical/Near infrared Detector | 2.2m | |
| HARPS - HAM - EGGS - CFA |
High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher - High Accuracy Mode - Extra Good General Spectroscopy - Cassegrain Fibre Adapter |
3.6m | |
| HAWK-I - GRAAL |
High Acuity Wide field K-band Imager - GRound layer Adaptive optics Assisted by Laser |
UT4 | GRAAL in preparation |
| ISAAC | Infrared Spectrometer and Array Camera | UT3 | |
| KMOS - KARMA |
(infrared multi-integral field spectrograph) - (observation preparation software) |
UTx | in preparation |
| MATISSE | Multi AperTure mid-Infrared SpectroScopic Experiment | VLTI 2nd generation | in preparation |
| MIDI | MID-infrared Interferometric instrument | VLTI | |
| MUSE - GALACSI |
Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer - MUSE AO system |
UT4 | in preparation |
| NACO - NAOS - CONICA |
NAos+COnica - Nasmyth Adaptive Optics System - coude Near Infrared CAmera |
UT4 | CONICA was originally intended for coudé |
| OmegaCAM | (wide field CAMera) | VST | in preparation |
| PRIMA | Phase-Referenced Imaging and Micro-arcsecond Astrometry | VLTI | |
| SINFONI - SPIFFI |
Spectrograph for INtegral Field Observation in the Near-Infrared - SPectrometer for Infrared Faint Field Imaging |
UT4 | |
| SOFI | Son OF Isaac | NTT | |
| SPHERE | Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch | UTx | in preparation |
| UVES | Uv Visual Echelle Spectrograph | UT2 | |
| VIMOS - MMU - VMMPS |
VIsible Multi-Object Spectrograph - Mask Manufacturing Unit - VIMOS Mask Preparation Software |
UT3 | MMU also used for FORS2 |
| VIRCAM | VISTA InfraRed CAMera | VISTA | |
| VISIR | VLT Imager and Spectrometer in the InfraRed | UT3 | |
| WFI | Wide Field Imager | 2.2m | |
| X-shooter | (wide range [UV-H] point source spectrograph) | UT2 |
| Acronym | meaning | ...for telescope | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| VSI | VLTI Spectro-Imager | VLTI 2nd generation | under study |
| Acronym | meaning | ...for telescope | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| CODEX | COsmic Dynamics EXperiment | E-ELT | under study |
| EAGLE | (Wide Field, Multi IFU NIR Spectrograph with MOAO) | E-ELT | under study |
| EPICS | Exo-Planet Imaging Camera and Spectrograph | E-ELT | under study |
| HARMONI | (Single Field, Wide Band Spectrograph) | E-ELT | under study |
| METIS | Mid-infrared E-ELT Imager and Spectrograph | E-ELT | under study |
| MICADO | MCAO Imaging Camera for Deep Observations | E-ELT | under study |
| OPTIMOS | (Wide Field Visual MOS) | E-ELT | under study |
| SIMPLE | (High Spectral Resolution NIR Spectrograph) | E-ELT | under study |
| Acronym | meaning | ...for telescope | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| CODEX | COsmic Dynamics EXperiment | OWL | study, closed |
| EPICS | Earth-like Planet Imaging Camera Spectrograph | OWL | study, closed |
| MOMFIS | Multi-Object Multi-Field near Infrared Spectrograph | OWL | study, closed |
| SCOWL | Submillimeter Camera for OWL | OWL | study, closed |
| T-OWL | Thermal instrument for OWL | OWL | study, closed |
| Acronym | meaning | was on telescope... | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADONIS | ADaptive Optics Near Infrared System | 3.6m | |
| B&C | Boller and Chivens | ESO 3.6m and 1.52m | 2 copies |
| CASPEC | CAssegrain echelle SPECtrograph | 3.6m | |
| CAT | Coudé Auxiliary Telescope | LSO | |
| CES | Coudé Echelle Spectrograph | 3.6m | |
| EMMI | ESO Multi Mode Instrument | NTT | |
| DFOSC | Danish Faint Object Spectrograph | D1.5m | |
| FORS1 | FOcal Reducer Spectrograph 1 | Antu, Kueyen, Melipal, Yepun | mothballed 2009-04 |
| IRAC2 | InfraRed Array Camera 2 | 2.2m | |
| IRSPEC | InfraRed SPECtrograph | NTT | replaced by SOFI |
| MEFOS | Meudon-ESO Fibre Optic Spectrograph | 3.6m | |
| OPTOPUS | (optical fibre system) | 3.6m | |
| PISCO | Polarimeter with Instrumental and Sky COmpensation | 2.2m | |
| SEST | Swedish-ESO Submillimetre Telescope | LSO | |
| SUSI | SUperb Seeing Imager | NTT | replaced by SUSI2 |
| SUSI2 | SUperb Seeing Imager 2 | NTT | replaced SUSI |
| TIMMI2 | Thermal Infrared Multi Mode Instrument 2 | 3.6m | replaced TIMMI |
| VINCI - MONA - LISA |
VLT INterferometer Commissioning Instrument - (fibre light combiner) - (infrared camera) |
VLTI |
| Acronym | meaning | remarks |
|---|---|---|
| ACE | Array Control Electronics | CCD controller |
| AO | Adaptive Optics | |
| AOF | Adaptive Optics Facility | VLT |
| APE | Active Phasing Experiment | ELT-DS |
| ARAL | ARtificial source and ALignment unit | VLTI |
| ASM | Astronomical Site Monitor | |
| ASSIST | Adaptive Secondary Set-up and Instrument SimulaTor | for AO |
| BOB | Broker for Observation Blocks | |
| BOSS | Base Observing Software Stub | VLT-SW |
| CAMCAO | CAmera for MCAO | for AO |
| CAS | Central Alarm System | Paranal |
| CCC | Closed Cycle Cooler | detectors |
| CFC | Continuous Flow Cryostat | detectors |
| DAO | Distributed Adaptive Optics | AO |
| DDL | Differential Delay Line | VLTI |
| DELIRIUM | (Delayline rail alignment monitoring system) | VLTI |
| DIMM | Differential Image Motion Monitor | |
| DM | Deformable Mirror | AO |
| DSM | Deformable Secondary Mirror | AO |
| ELT E-ELT ELT-DS - ESE |
Extremely Large Telescope European Extremely Large Telescope ELT Design Study - ELT Science and Engineering working group |
|
| FIERA | Fast Imager Electronic Readout Assembly | CCD controller |
| FINITO | (first generation VLTI fringe sensor) | VLTI |
| FSU | Fringe Sensor Unit | VLTI |
| GASGANO | (Data File Organiser) | |
| GLAO | Ground Layer Adaptive Optics | AO |
| IFU | Integral Field Unit | |
| IRACE | InfraRed detector high speed Array Control and processing Electronic | IR detector controller |
| IRIS | InfraRed Image Sensor | VLTI |
| LABOCA | (bolometer) | APEX |
| LGSF - PARSEC |
Laser Guide Star Facility - Paranal Artificial Reference Source for Extended Coverage |
AO |
| MACAO | Multi-Application Curvature Adaptive Optics | |
| MAD | Multi-conjugate Adaptive optics Demonstrator | AO |
| MASCOT | Mini All-Sky Cloud Observation Tool | camera at PAO |
| MCAO | Multi Conjugate Adaptive Optics | AO |
| MMB | Mirror Maintenance Building | |
| MOS | Multi Object Spectroscopy | |
| NGC | New General detector Controller | |
| N(G)TCCD | New (Generation) Technical CCD | |
| OB | Observation Block | |
| OPD | Optical Path Difference | VLTI |
| OS | Observation Software | |
| PPRS | Paranal Problem Reporting System | |
| PULPO | (CCD function controller) | |
| REM | Rapid Eye Mount | LSO |
| RRM | Rapid Response Mode | |
| RTC | Real Time Computer | |
| RTD | Real Time Display | |
| SAMPO | (the powerful mystical artifact in Finnish mythology) | Phase-A study of future needs for the ESO community in the area of data reduction and analysis environments |
| SCAO | Single Conjugate Adaptive Optics | |
| SCP | Service Connection Point | |
| SPARTA | Standard Platform for Adaptive optics Real-Time Applications | AO |
| SPR | Software Problem Report | |
| STRAP | System for Tip-tit Removal with Avalanche Photodiodes | AO |
| TCCD | Technical CCD | |
| TCS | Telescope Control System | |
| VCM | Variable Curvature Mirror | VLTI |
| VLT-SW | VLT SoftWare | |
| VPHG | Volume Phased Holographic Grism | |
| WEB | Wind Evaluation Breadboard | ELT-DS |
| XAO | eXtreme Adaptive Optics |
General acronyms used at ESO
The following table contains general acronyms used within ESO but not directly related to instruments. Please send further entries to Gero.
| Acronym | meaning | remarks |
|---|---|---|
| AD | Applicable Document | |
| ADD | ADministration Division | |
| AIT/V | Assembly, Integration, Test/Verification | |
| ALMA - AMAC - ASAC - EAB - ESAC - IPT - JAO |
Atacama Large Millimeter Array - ALMA Management Advisory Committee - ALMA Scientific Advisory Office - European ALMA Board - European Science Advisory Committee - Integrated Product Team - ALMA Joint Office |
|
| AO | Announcement of Opportunity | |
| APEX | Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment | |
| AT | Auxiliary Telescope | VLTI |
| AVO | Astrophysical Virtual Observatory | |
| BSCW | Basic Support for Cooperative Work | electronic shared workspace system |
| CCG | Computer Coordination Group | |
| CP, CAP | Contracts And Procurement | |
| CfP | Call for Proposals | proposals for observing time |
| CfT | Call for Tender | |
| COU | Council | |
| CTC | Cost To Completion | |
| DFS | Data Flow System | |
| DG - DDT - DGDF |
Director General - Director's Discretionary Time - Director General Discretionary Fund |
|
| DICB/DICD | Data Interface Control Board/Document | |
| DMO | Data Management and Operations division | formerly DMD |
| EIS | ESO Imaging Survey | |
| ePOD | education and Public Outreach Department | formerly PAD |
| ERP | ESO Enterprise Resource Planning | |
| ESO | European Southern Observatory | |
| FC | Finance Committee | |
| FDR | Final Design Review | |
| GOODS | Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey | |
| GTO | Guaranteed Time Observation | |
| IAAB | Indefinite Appointment Advisory Board | |
| INS | INStrumentation division | |
| IOT | Instrument Operations Team | |
| IPD | Instrumentation Projects Department | |
| IPO | Instrumentation Project Office | E-ELT |
| IRI | InfraRed Instrumentation and detector department | |
| ISCE | International Staff Committee Europe | |
| ISM | International Staff Member | |
| IST | Instrument Science Team | |
| JBS | Job Breakdown Structure | |
| JSP | Job Structure Plan | |
| LPO, LSP | La Silla-Paranal Observatory | |
| LSO | La Silla Observatory | part of LPO |
| MAIT | Manufacture, Assembly, Integration, Test | |
| MICE | Management It CommitteE | |
| MIDAS | Munich Image Data Analysis System | |
| MMM | Monthly Management Meeting | |
| NGAS | New Generation Archive System | |
| NTT | New Technology Telescope | LSO |
| ODG | Office of the Director General | |
| ODT | Optical Detector Team | |
| OLAS | OnLine Archive System | |
| OPC | Observing Programmes Committee | |
| OPI | OPtical Instrumentation department | now merged in IPD |
| OWL | OverWhelmingly Large (telescope) | study for an ESO ELT (finished) |
| P2PP | Phase 2 Proposal Preparation | |
| PAC | Provisional Acceptance in Chile | |
| PAD | Public Affairs Department | now ePOD |
| PAE | Provisional Acceptance in Europe | |
| PAO | Paranal Astronomical Observatory | part of LPO |
| PDR | Preliminary Design Review | |
| PES | PErsonnel Services | |
| PO | Purchase Order | |
| PR | Purchase Request | |
| PSO | Paranal Science Operations | |
| QC | Quality Control | |
| RD | Reference Document | |
| SDD | Software Development Division | |
| SFN | Star Formation Newsletter | |
| SM | Service Mode | |
| SOW | Statement Of Work | |
| SR&R | Staff Rules and Regulations | |
| STC | Scientific-Technical Committee | |
| ST-ECF | Space Telescope-European Coordination Facility | |
| SV | Science Verification | |
| TEC | TEChnical deivision | |
| TIO | Telescope and Instrument Operator | |
| ToO | Target of Opportunity | |
| TPO | Telescope Project Office | E-ELT |
| TRAPPIST | TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope | LSO |
| TSD | Telescope Systems Division | |
| UC | Users' Committee | |
| USD | User Support Department | |
| UT | Unit Telescope | VLT |
| VA | Visiting Astronomer | |
| VC | Visiting Committee | |
| VISAS | VISiting Astronomers Section | |
| VISTA | Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy | PAO, in preparation |
| VLT | Very Large Telescope | PAO |
| VLTI - ITF |
Very Large Telescope Interferometer - Interferometry Task Force |
PAO |
| VM | Visitor Mode | |
| VO | Virtual Observatory | |
| VST | VLT Survey Telescope | PAO, in preparation |