MOONS instrument begins observations at Chile's Very Large Telescope

The Multi-Object Optical and Near‑infrared Spectrograph (MOONS) has begun its commissioning phase at the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) on the Atacama plateau in Chile. The instrument, designed to capture spectra from hundreds of astronomical targets simultaneously, marks the first operational deployment of a major new capability at the VLT since its inception.

Developed under the leadership of a Scottish team lead, MOONS is a collaborative effort involving institutions across Europe and the United Kingdom. It will operate in the visible and near‑infrared wavelengths, enabling large‑scale surveys of the Milky Way’s stellar populations, distant galaxies, and cosmological structures. The instrument’s deployment follows extensive laboratory testing and integration at the European Southern Observatory’s headquarters, and its activation at the VLT is expected to enhance the observatory’s survey efficiency and scientific output over the coming decade.

The start of MOONS’ work at the VLT signals a significant expansion of the facility’s observational repertoire, providing astronomers with a powerful tool for addressing key questions in galactic archaeology, galaxy evolution, and dark energy research. Ongoing performance verification will determine the instrument’s full capabilities, after which it will be made available to the international scientific community for a range of research programmes.