Annuncio

KMOS Opens for Regular Observing

24 Ottobre 2013

After a very successful start of commissioning in November 2012, KMOS officially began scientific operations this month. KMOS is an integrated-field-unit (24 sub-fields), medium-resolution (R~3000–4000) spectrograph covering the 0.8–2.5 micron region of the spectrum. After X-Shooter, which started operations 4 years ago, KMOS is the second of the second-generation VLT instruments now in operation at the VLT. Next year will be quite busy at Paranal with the start of commissioning of two other instruments from the second generation: MUSE, a visible-range adaptive-optics assisted integral-field-unit spectrograph, and the multi-mode planet-finder instrument SPHERE.