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The Wide-Field Spectroscopic Telescope

Project description

Unlocking the mysteries of the cosmos

The EU is funding a concept study of a novel transformational facility: the 12-metre wide-field spectroscopic telescope (WST), which will simultaneously operate a multi-object spectrograph (MOS) – capable of observing up to 20 000 astronomical objects at once over a three-square-degree field of view – and an integral field spectrograph (IFS) with a nine square arc minute field-of-view. Within five years, the MOS will acquire spectra from 250 million galaxies and 25 million stars at low spectral resolution, plus over 2 million stars at high resolution, while the IFS will obtain four billion spectra. With a low environmental impact, the EU-funded WST project will produce cutting-edge science, enabling researchers to tackle key scientific questions while opening doors to serendipitous discoveries.

Objective

We propose a conceptual design study for a 12-metre wide-field spectroscopic survey telescope (WST) with simultaneous operation of a large field-of-view (3 sq. degree), high-multiplex (20,000) multi-object spectrograph (MOS) and a giant 3x3 arcmin integral field spectrograph (IFS). In scientific capability these specifications place WST far ahead of existing and planned facilities. In only 5 years of operation, the MOS would target 250 million galaxies and 25 million stars at low spectral resolution plus 2 million stars at high resolution. Without need for pre-imaged targets, the IFS would deliver 4 billion spectra offering many serendipitous discoveries. Given the current investment in deep imaging surveys and noting the diagnostic power of spectroscopy, WST will fill a crucial gap in astronomical capability and work in synergy with future ground and space-based facilities. We show how it can address outstanding scientific questions in the areas of cosmology; galaxy assembly, evolution, and enrichment, including our own Milky Way; the origin of stars and planets; and time domain and multi-messenger astrophysics. WST’s uniquely rich dataset may yield unforeseen discoveries in many of these areas. The study will deliver telescope and instrument designs, cost estimates, an updated science white paper and survey plan, concept studies for data management, and a facility operation concept. The telescope and instruments will be designed as an integrated system and will mostly use existing technology, with the aim to minimise the carbon footprint and environmental impact. We will propose WST as the next ESO project after completion of the 39-metre ELT. Our consortium includes institutes from Australia, which has a strategic partnership with ESO and aims to apply shortly for full membership. Together with ESO and institutes in 9 European countries, our team has the necessary technical and scientific expertise, and brings 70 years of in-kind effort to the proposed study.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-INFRA-2024-DEV-01

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Coordinator

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 650 447,50
Address
RUE MICHEL ANGE 3
75794 PARIS
France

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Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Hauts-de-Seine
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Research Organisations
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Participants (11)

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