Opening up images of the universe in unprecedented depth

University of Göttingen involved in the development of a new high-resolution astro camera

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has taken an important step towards its 40-meter class telescope, the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which is currently under construction: the high-resolution camera, Multi-AO Imaging Camera for Deep Observations (MICADO), has passed the final design review. The powerful camera will enable astronomers to capture images of the universe at unprecedented depths. The MICADO consortium, an international team including the Institute of Astrophysics and Geophysics at the University of Göttingen, can now concentrate on manufacturing and testing the instrument.

When developing the instrument, the aim was to achieve high sensitivity, high resolution, astrometric accuracy and coverage of a wide wavelength range. The camera system is installed in such a way that the light from the telescope can be transmitted to the cryostat via the adaptive optics system, which corrects for atmospheric blurring. Here, the optics and detectors are cooled down to 200 degrees Celsius below the ambient temperature so that they can work effectively in the near infrared range without interference from background radiation.

"We have been involved in this project since the beginning in 2015 and have developed two complete subsystems for the MICADO camera," says Harald Nicklas from the Institute of Astrophysics and Geophysics at the University of Göttingen. On the one hand, this involves the large supporting structure for mounting the camera vacuum tank in the telescope focal point prepared by the adaptive optics, and on the other, a control platform that moves with the camera, including all supply lines. In addition, the Göttingen astrophysicists developed an eight-meter-high walk-on platform that encloses the entire installation on the telescope. As the ELT is being built in Chile, this platform and all other subsystems must be able to withstand the frequent earthquakes there. "With the assessment, we are now entering the next phase of the project, which includes the production, procurement and testing of all subsystems before the entire system can be delivered to Chile," explains Nicklas.

Once the ELT is operational, this camera will provide high-resolution images of the universe, revealing the detailed structures and formation mechanisms of distant galaxies. In addition, astronomers will be able to study individual stars and star systems in nearby galaxies as well as planets and their formation outside our solar system. They will also be able to study environments where gravitational forces are extremely strong, for example near the black hole at the center of the Milky Way. ESO plans to put the 40-meter telescope with this camera into operation in the course of this decade.