The Faculty of Science joins the development of the ANDES spectrograph for the world’s largest optical telescope

The Faculty of Science is gaining the opportunity to participate in the cutting-edge ANDES spectrograph, which will be installed on the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile. The initiative to join the international project is led by the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University.

20 Apr 2026 Adéla Lerchová Tereza Jeřábková

A rendering of the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which ESO is building in Chile’s Atacama Desert on Cerro Armazones. Once completed, it will be the largest optical/infrared telescope in the world and will usher in a new era of research into exoplanets, the first stars, galaxies, and the universe as a whole. Photo: ESO

ANDES is an international project focused on the development of one of the key instruments for the ELT. The Czech scientific community can now join alongside partners from thirteen other countries.

Thanks to this, Czech scientists will not only gain access to observing time that is difficult to secure in a highly competitive environment but will also acquire valuable know-how and new opportunities for collaboration between research and industry.

Participation in the project will open access for Czech astronomy to the development of a state-of-the-art ELT instrument, as well as to future research on exoplanets, the expansion of the universe, and processes related to star formation.

“We are very proud to be part of this initiative from the very beginning. It is a major opportunity for our research and cooperation with industry, but also for our students, who can get involved in a top-level international project from its inception,” says Tereza Jeřábková from the Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, who is behind the Faculty of Science’s involvement (SCI MU) in the emerging Czech consortium CZ-ANDES.

A discussion between Norbert Werner (Department of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University) and President Petr Pavel. Photo: Jiří Srba, Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

“Having the opportunity to present this initiative directly in the setting of ESO’s observatories in Chile was very valuable. The ANDES project represents an exceptional opportunity for Czech astronomy, while at the same time further deepening the collaboration between the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University and the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences,” says Ludek Blaha, Dean of the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University.

During the visit to the Paranal Observatory, a signed document was presented expressing the joint intention of the Czech side and the ANDES consortium to establish cooperation and seek the Czech Republic’s participation in this international project. Photo: Jiří Srba, Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

“The ANDES project represents a significant step toward strategic cooperation between the Czech Academy of Sciences and Masaryk University in a major international astronomical project. At the same time, it opens opportunities for Czech industry to participate in the development of components for next-generation telescopes, strengthens collaboration between research institutions and the commercial sector, and further advances Czech excellence in ground-based optical and infrared astronomy,” says Michal Bursa, Director of the Astronomical Institute of the CAS.

The ANDES spectrograph will help search for Earth-like planets

ANDES is an ultra-precise spectrograph being developed by the international ANDES consortium led by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF). Its scientific objectives cover four main areas – exoplanets, star formation and evolution, dark matter, and fundamental physical constants.

“High-precision exoplanet spectroscopy will enable the study of exoplanet atmospheres and the search for signs of life,” says Petr Kabáth, head of the Czech branch of ANDES.

The Czech astronomical community will thus take part in the search for a second Earth.

The spectrograph is planned to become operational at the beginning of the next decade. CZ-ANDES will integrate the Czech Republic into the international project, allowing Czech institutions to contribute to the spectrograph’s development through hardware, software, and human resources.

This represents a strategic step toward strengthening the Czech Republic’s involvement in ESO instrumentation projects and developing national expertise in advanced astronomical instrumentation.

The ELT will be the largest optical telescope in the world. Its primary mirror will have a diameter of 39 meters, and the telescope will be equipped with the most advanced instruments for exploring the universe.

ESO is constructing it on Cerro Armazones in Chile. According to the current schedule, first light is expected in 2029, with scientific operations to begin around 2030.

A rendering of the ANDES spectrograph, one of the key instruments being developed for the ELT. ANDES will enable extremely precise spectroscopic measurements and will help study, for example, the atmospheres of exoplanets, the chemical composition of stars and galaxies, and the physical conditions in the early universe. Photo: ESO

MU as a partner from the very beginning

The initiative to involve Masaryk University in the emerging CZ-ANDES consortium is driven by the Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics at the Faculty of Science. Its contribution lies mainly in software development, simulations, and scientific data interpretation. It is also involved in the design and scientific exploitation of the ANDES spectrograph.

By signing the Letter of Intent, the Faculty of Science expresses its intention to join the international ANDES consortium.

“For the Faculty of Science, the signing has a significant strategic dimension. It confirms our role as an important partner from the very beginning and gives us the opportunity to actively co-shape further negotiations and the future form of Czech participation in the project,” emphasizes Jeřábková.

In cooperation with the Astronomical Institute of the CAS, the Institute coordinates activities within the CZ-ANDES consortium with the aim of maximizing the scientific impact of Czech participation. In this context, it is also building expert capacity within the Czech Republic.

“If the follow-up steps are successfully completed and the necessary resources for instrumental and software involvement are secured, the Faculty of Science will gain access to participation in cutting-edge infrastructure, the development of related technical and scientific capacities, and, in the future, significant research opportunities linked to the use of the instrument,” Jeřábková adds.

Participation in such initiatives also holds strong potential for student involvement and the development of expertise at the Faculty.

“Beyond the scientific benefits themselves, we also see this initiative as an important investment in the future. Projects like this help build an environment in which new generations of experts can grow, gaining experience from international collaboration on truly cutting-edge infrastructure,” Jeřábková concludes.

According to Jeřábková, it is valuable that Faculty of Science of Masaryk University is among the direct partners in this initiative from the very beginning. At the same time, this step can be seen as an opportunity for broader future collaboration across the Czech astronomical community.

In the future, new partners from Czech institutions and companies will also be able to join the CZ-ANDES consortium and contribute to the development of the spectrograph.