Meet MICADO, a super-camera for the ELT!

MICADO will be one of the first-generation instruments of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). MICADO stands for Multi-AO Imaging Camera for Deep Observations, will take high-resolution images of the Universe at near-infrared wavelengths. This makes the instrument ideal for identifying exoplanets, but also for resolving individual stars in other galaxies and investigating the mysterious centre of the Milky Way. This documentary will give you a unique behind-the-scenes look at how MICADO works, the challenges of designing such a complex instrument, and how it will change our understanding of the cosmos once it’s operational at the ELT.

Credit:

ESO

Directed by: Martin Wallner.
Editing: Martin Kornmesser, Herbert Zodet and Martin Wallner.
Web and technical support: Gurvan Bazin and Raquel Yumi Shida.
Written by: Martin Wallner, Giulio Mazzolo, Anita Chandran and Bárbara Ferreira.
Narration: Colin Griffiths-Brown.
Music: Mylonite MRP (Mylonite Recordz Production) — BO Réflexion Méditation/Berceuse spatiale, Johan B. Monell (www.johanmonell.com) — Gamma Ray Bursts/Explorer of the Unknown/ Rosetta Mission, Stellardrone — Open Cluster and DoKashiteru — Computer.
Footage and photos: ESO, MICADO consortium, L. Calçada, M. Kornmesser, Nick Risinger (skysurvey.org), Genzel et al., Space Engine (spaceengine.org), CLUES — Constrained Local Universe Evolution Simulation, ACe Consortium, G. Hüdepohl (atacamaphoto.com), © KUK Film, ESA/Hubble, J. Emerson/VISTA. Acknowledgment: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit, Digitized Sky Survey 2 and ESO/Nogueras-Lara et al., Davide De Martin, S. Guisard (www.eso.org/~sguisard), GRAVITY collaboration, Jordy Davelaar et al./Radboud University/BlackHoleCam, INAF-VST/OmegaCAM, A. Grado, L. Limatola/INAF-Capodimonte Observatory, S. Brunier and Theofanis N. Matsopoulos.