Italian version



Laboratory for Astronomical Optics and Spectroscopy

Development of
Optical Instrumentation

The Palermo Astronomical Observatory carries out a technology program for the design and development of optical echelle spectrographs for large telescopes and is currently leading the Italian Consortia involved in the construction of echelle spectrographs for the VLT (project X-SHOOTER) and for the LBT (project PEPSI). The main area of responsibility of the Palermo Observatory for these projects is optical design, optics procurement and test, in close collaboration with the GOLEM Team at Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera. For these activities the Palermo Observatory is setting up an optical laboratory (LAOS = Laboratory for Astronomical Optics and Spectroscopy) that will gradually be upgraded depending on the availability of financial resources and manpower.

The LAOS Team at OAPA is currently formed by R. Pallavicini (Team leader), Paolo Spano` and Germano Sacco. Other researchers at OAPA who have contributed in the past to these activities include Francesco Damiani and Pasquale Caldara. Scientists at OAPA with an active interest in the scientific use of echelle spectrographs at large optical telescopes include also Ettore Flaccomio, Giusi Micela, Roberto Pallavicini, Ignazio Pillitteri, Loredana Prisinzano and Paolo Spanò.

The technology program of optical spectroscopy at OAPA has been financed by CNR, CNAA, MIUR, INAF and Regione Sicilia.



Current Projects
X-SHOOTER
A High Efficiency,
Wide Spectral Band
Spectrograph
for the ESO VLT


PEPSI with ICE PEPSI
Potsdam Echelle Polarimetric
and Spectroscopic Instrument
for the LBT with the
Italian Consortium Echelle
spectrograph


Past Projects
SARG SARG
High Resolution Spectrograph
at TNG
FLAMES FLAMES
Fibre Large Area
Multi Element Spectrograph
at VLT
AVES AVES

Adaptive Optics
Visual Echelle Spectrograph
for the VLT