Paranal Instruments Summary Table

Instrument Spectral Coverage Observing Mode Spectral Resolution Multiplex Note Telescope
NACO IR
1-5 µm
imaging, imaging polarimetry, coronagraphy (Angular Groove Phase Mask) in 3.5 to 4.2µm filters, sparse aperture masking (incl. w/polarimetry), Angular Differential Imaging (Pupil Tracking) - no AO with visible and IR wave front sensor; no AO and Cube Mode available
VLT UT1
FORS2 optical
330 - 1100 nm
imaging (incl. configurable occulting bars), long slit and multi-object spectroscopy, spectropolarimetry, imaging polarimetry 260 - 2600 yes Spectroscopy with ~7' long slit, ~20" multi-slit, and laser-cut slit masks; multiple object spectroscopy; RRM VLT UT1
KMOS near-IR
0.8 - 2.5 µm
multi-object integral field spectroscopy (24 arms) 1800 - 4000 yes 24-arms Integral Field Spectroscopy; 2.8x2.8", 0.2" sampling IFU over a 7.2' field; VLT UT1
FLAMES optical
370 - 950 nm
multi-fibre echelle,integral field spectroscopy 6000 - 47000 yes 132 Medusa fibres; 15 deployable IFUs, one large IFU; GIRAFFE: single echelle order; 8 fibres to UVES VLT UT2
X-SHOOTER UV-optical-NIR
300 - 2500 nm
echelle, slit and integral field spectroscopy ~5000-17000 no full spectral coverage with one pointing; slit + IFU; RRM VLT UT2
UVES optical
300 - 1100 nm
echelle, image slicer, slit spectroscopy up to 80,000 (blue arm) / 110,000 (red arm) no long slit capability in single order; iodine cell; RRM VLT UT2
SPHERE

optical: 500 - 900 nm

near-IR: 0.95 - 2.32  µm

high-contrast imaging, dual-band imaging, integral field spectroscopy, differential-polarimetric imaging with or without classical, apodized pupil Lyot coronagraphs, sparse aperture mask ~30, 50, 400 no extreme AO with optical wave-front sensor; RRM VLT UT3
VISIR mid-IR: 4.5 - 21 µm M, N and Q band normal and burst-mode imaging; coronagraphy (Angular Groove Phase Mask, 4-Quadrant Phase Mask); N band low resolution long slit spectroscopy;  high-resolution long slit and cross-dispersed spectroscopy ~400, 20000 no pixel size of 0.045 and 0.076 arcsec in imaging, and 0.076 arcsec in spectroscopy VLT UT3
HAWK-I near-IR 0.85-2.5 µm broand and narrow band imaging, fast photometry - - pixel size of 0.106"; field: 7.5'x7.5', subwindow readout capability; GLAO; RRM VLT UT4
SINFONI near-IR
1.1 - 2.45 µm
integral field spectroscopy 1500-4000 no AO with natural and laser guide star; no AO; RRM VLT UT4
MUSE


optical

465 - 930 nm

integral field spectroscopy

1770 @ 480nm

3590 @ 930nm

no IFU size on sky 60"x60", spaxel size 0.2"; GLAO, no AO; RRM.
VLT UT4
ESPRESSO

optical

380 - 780 nm

fibre-fed échelle spectroscopy 140,000 or 200,000 (median) no 2 fibres (1 object, 1 sky or simultaneous reference), RV precision < 1 m/s (with the ultimate goal of reaching 10 cm/s), 1-UT mode only

VLT UT1,  

VLT UT2,

VLT UT3, or

VLT UT4

GRAVITY

near-IR

2.05 - 2.45 µm

spectro-interferometry R ~ 500 to 4000 no
4 beam combiner - delivers spectrally
dispersed visibilities, differential and closure phases
VLTI - ATs VLTI - UTs
PIONIER

near-IR

1.65 µm

spectro - interferometry R ~ 5 or 40
no 4 beam combiner - delivers spectrally
dispersed visibilities, differential and closure phases
VLTI - ATs
VLTI - UTs
VIRCAM near-IR
0.8-2.2 µm
imaging - - 1.5 degree  x 1 degree field of view with 0.34" average pixel size VISTA
OmegaCAM optical              350-910 nm imaging - - 1 degree x 1 degree unvignetted field of view with 0.21" pixel size VST