McGill University researchers are playing a pivotal role in securing Canadian access to the world's largest telescope, the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). This groundbreaking project, led by the Université de Montréal, the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic (OMM), and the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (IREx), has been awarded a substantial $11.3 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The funding will support Canada's contribution to ANDES, a cutting-edge scientific instrument for the ELT, currently under construction in Chile.
The ELT, boasting a 39-meter diameter, will be the largest telescope of its kind, offering unprecedented views of the universe. Canada's involvement in ANDES provides a rare gateway to this global facility, as the country is not a member of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), which is building and operating the ELT. By contributing key components, Canadian astronomers gain guaranteed access to the telescope, a privilege they would otherwise lack.
René Doyon, Director of the OMM and IREx, emphasizes the transformative impact of this moment for Canadian astronomy. He states that it propels Canada into a leading role in what could become the most powerful ground-based telescope ever built. For decades, access to an next-generation optical telescope has been a national priority, and the ELT represents Canada's best near-term path into this new era of astronomical discovery.
ANDES, short for ArmazoNeshigh Dispersion Echelle Spectrograph, is a core instrument of the ELT. It breaks incoming light into its component wavelengths with extreme precision, enabling astronomers to determine the composition and behavior of distant objects. The instrument will be used to study the first stars and galaxies, as well as the evolution of chemical elements across cosmic time.
One of ANDES' most anticipated applications is the search for signs of life beyond Earth. It will be the first instrument capable of directly probing the atmospheres of nearby Earth-like planets orbiting sun-like stars, looking for molecules such as water, oxygen, methane, and carbon dioxide. Nicolas Cowan, a professor at the Trottier Space Institute at McGill and a co-investigator on the Canadian ANDES contribution, highlights the significance of this instrument, stating that it will be a huge leap forward in the search for life in the universe.
McGill's contribution to the project is led by Cowan, who serves as the McGill principal investigator and a national co-investigator. McGill researchers will develop key software that converts ANDES' raw measurements into science-grade spectra, which are essential for detecting molecules in exoplanet atmospheres and carrying out the instrument's broader science program. This work places McGill at the crucial interface between observation and discovery, ensuring that the ELT's exceptional light-gathering power translates into reliable scientific results.
Beyond its scientific goals, the project will support training and innovation across Canada. Nearly half of the funding will go towards highly qualified personnel and partnerships with Canadian industry, advancing technologies in optics, photonics, detectors, and data science. These fields have applications in various sectors, including medical imaging and communications. The project also includes educational initiatives to bring ELT science into Canadian classrooms, providing students with direct exposure to real observations of distant worlds.
With development of ANDES already underway, Canada's contribution is now fully secured. As a second-generation ELT instrument, ANDES is expected to begin operations in the next decade, shortly after the telescope itself becomes operational. This collaboration between Canadian institutions and the international astronomy community marks a significant milestone in Canadian astronomy, paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries and a deeper understanding of the universe.
