Project description
Exploring the next generation of exoplanets
Used to detect exoplanets, the transit method catches a planet’s shadow as it crosses its star, but it is blind to the long-period planets in habitable zones. The ERC-funded ECHOES project is developing techniques and faster active wavefront correction methods to image young giant planets that have already been identified. By using the VLT/SPHERE+ instrument as a technology demonstrator, the project will validate experimental strategies that are directly transferable to future high-priority missions, such as the Extremely Large Telescope’s PCS instrument and NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory. ECHOES serves as a bridge toward the goal of characterising habitable worlds and potentially identifying signs of life beyond our solar system.
Objective
"The transit method currently dominates exoplanet discovery but is limited to short-period, transiting planets, offering only partial insights into habitable zone (HZ) planets. Direct imaging, particularly through coronagraphic imaging, presents the most promising approach for characterizing HZ exoplanets and their atmospheres. Future missions like NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) and ELT instruments, such as the Planetary Camera & Spectrograph (PCS), aim to overcome this challenge, targeting HZ planets around Sun-like and M-dwarf stars, respectively. However, coronagraphic imaging faces significant obstacles due to the extreme star-planet flux ratios. To limit the risks faced by PCS and HWO, ESO and NASA have initiated two technology demonstrators, VLT/SPHERE+ (2027) and Roman mission (2026). They will validate innovative active wavefront correction methods, key to improve coronagraphic performance.
As of today, current coronagraphs instruments have uncovered only a handful of young giant planets (YGPs). But radial velocity surveys suggest most YGPs orbit closer (5–10 au), currently right at the limit of our instruments’ capability. The upcoming Gaia release (2026) will provide hundreds of possible targets.
The positioning SPHERE+, a technology demonstration with cutting edge performance, is a unique opportunity to address a dual goal:
- Astrophysical: Imaging already indirectly detected YGPs using the novel ""dark-hole"" technique
- Instrumental: Developing faster active wavefront correction methods and image treatment
The methods developed through this ERC are unexplored and have been specifically chosen to be relevant for ground and space instruments. They will be tested on SPHERE+, serve as a foundation for the design of ELT/PCS, and could be used on Roman, with a long-term goal of direct use for HWO. Finally, a key deliverable is to provide an experimental platform for PCS&HWO technology demonstration, open to European researchers for collaboration."
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
75794 Paris
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.