Est. 2019 — High Altitude Research Station
A premier deep-space observatory dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of distant galaxies, exoplanetary systems, and the fundamental architecture of the universe.
Founded in 2019 atop the Sierra Luminosa ridge, the Observatory operates at the frontier of astrophysical research. Our twin-mirror adaptive optics telescope — spanning 12.4 meters — peers deeper into the cosmos than any ground-based instrument of its class.
We combine cutting-edge spectroscopic analysis with multi-wavelength imaging to map distant stellar nurseries, characterize exoplanetary atmospheres, and measure the expansion rate of the universe with unprecedented precision.
Our research divisions span four core disciplines: deep-field cosmology, exoplanet detection and characterization, stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis, and high-energy transient phenomena including gamma-ray bursts and gravitational wave counterparts.
Mapping the large-scale structure of the universe and constraining dark energy models.
Detecting and characterizing worlds beyond our solar system through transit photometry.
Tracing the life cycles of stars from molecular clouds to neutron stars and black holes.
Rapid-response observation of transient phenomena and gravitational wave counterparts.
A selection of landmark findings from our deep-space survey programs, each expanding the boundaries of human knowledge.
A previously uncharted galaxy cluster at redshift z=2.4, containing 340+ member galaxies spanning 12 Mpc. First detected through gravitational lensing anomalies in our deep-field survey.
A rocky super-Earth orbiting within the habitable zone of a K-type main-sequence star. Atmospheric spectroscopy reveals water vapor signatures and a nitrogen-rich envelope.
A millisecond pulsar in a binary system exhibiting anomalous spin-down behavior. Timing residuals suggest the presence of a planetary companion of approximately 4 Earth masses.
Direct detection of a dark matter filament connecting two galaxy clusters via weak gravitational lensing analysis, providing evidence for the cosmic web's fine structure.
Time-resolved spectroscopy of an interacting binary revealing episodic mass-transfer events. The accretion disk exhibits quasi-periodic oscillations with a 47-minute cycle.
First-light optical identification of a neutron star merger's kilonova counterpart within 11 minutes of gravitational wave alert, enabling full spectral evolution tracking.
Real-time metrics from our instrumentation, observation campaigns, and data processing pipelines.
The scientists, engineers, and visionaries who push the boundaries of observational astronomy every clear night.
Cosmologist specializing in dark energy constraints. 22 years of observational research. Former ESO staff astronomer.
Pioneer in transit spectroscopy techniques. Confirmed 47 exoplanets. Lead PI of the ASTRION survey program.
Specialist in nucleosynthesis and chemical evolution. Led the discovery of three ultra-metal-poor stars in the Galactic halo.
Optical engineer who designed the CLARITAS adaptive optics system. Expert in wavefront sensing and deformable mirror control.
Architect of our ML-driven transient classification pipeline. Processes 200,000+ candidates nightly with 99.4% accuracy.
Rapid-response astronomer leading our GW follow-up program. Co-discovered three kilonova optical counterparts.
Public engagement director running our planetarium program and citizen science initiatives reaching 500,000 participants annually.
Chief systems engineer maintaining telescope mechanics, dome control software, and the observatory's environmental monitoring network.