Objective "One of the most significant goals of modern astronomy is establishing whether life exists around other stars. The most direct path towards its achievement is the detection and spectroscopic characterization of terrestrial planets orbiting in the habitable zone of their host stars. The ~1000 nearest ultra-cool stars (UCS, spectral type M6 and latter) represent a unique opportunity to reach this goal within the next decade. Due to their small luminosity, their habitable zone is 30-100 times closer than for the Sun, the corresponding orbital periods ranging from one to a few days. Thanks to this proximity, the transits of habitable planets are much more probable and frequent than for Earth-Sun analogs, while the small size of UCS (~1 Jupiter radius) leads to transits deep enough for a ground-based detection, even for sub-Earth sized planets. Furthermore, habitable planets transiting nearby UCS would be amenable for a thorough atmospheric characterization with near-to-come world-class facilities, including the detection of possible biosignatures. Detecting such planets is the goal of SPECULOOS. Its instrumental concept is optimized for the detection of planets of Earth-size and below transiting the nearest Southern UCS. It consists in several robotic 1m-class telescopes equipped with new generation CCD cameras optimized for the near-IR and operating from one of the best astronomical sites of the Southern hemisphere. SPECULOOS will perform the first exploration of the Terra Incognita of planets around UCS, and detect the first terrestrial planets amenable for atmospheric characterization." Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensorsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanets Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-PE9 - ERC Starting Grant - Universe sciences Call for proposal ERC-2013-StG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Host institution UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE EU contribution € 1 963 990,00 Address PLACE DU 20 AOUT 7 4000 Liege Belgium See on map Region Région wallonne Prov. Liège Arr. Liège Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Michaël Gillon (Dr.) Administrative Contact Isabelle Halleux (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE Belgium EU contribution € 1 963 990,00 Address PLACE DU 20 AOUT 7 4000 Liege See on map Region Région wallonne Prov. Liège Arr. Liège Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Michaël Gillon (Dr.) Administrative Contact Isabelle Halleux (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data