Nearly a decade of groundbreaking speckle interferometry at the international Gemini observatory
Since its inception, speckle interferometry has revolutionized high-resolution astronomical imaging, overcoming atmospheric challenges to achieve the diffraction limits of telescopes. Almost a decade ago, in 2018, a pair of speckle cameras – ‘Alopeke and Zorro–were installed at two of the largest ap...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2025.1608411/full |
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| author | Steve B. Howell Clara E. Martínez-Vázquez Elise Furlan Nicholas J. Scott Rachel A. Matson Colin Littlefield Colin Littlefield Catherine A. Clark Kathryn V. Lester Zachary D. Hartman David R. Ciardi Sarah J. Deveny Sarah J. Deveny |
| author_facet | Steve B. Howell Clara E. Martínez-Vázquez Elise Furlan Nicholas J. Scott Rachel A. Matson Colin Littlefield Colin Littlefield Catherine A. Clark Kathryn V. Lester Zachary D. Hartman David R. Ciardi Sarah J. Deveny Sarah J. Deveny |
| author_sort | Steve B. Howell |
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| description | Since its inception, speckle interferometry has revolutionized high-resolution astronomical imaging, overcoming atmospheric challenges to achieve the diffraction limits of telescopes. Almost a decade ago, in 2018, a pair of speckle cameras – ‘Alopeke and Zorro–were installed at two of the largest apertures in the world, the twin 8.1-m Gemini North and South telescopes in Hawai’i and Chile. Equipped with dual blue and red channels, ’Alopeke and Zorro deliver high-resolution imaging across the optical bandpass from 350 to 1,000 nm, which has led to crucial discoveries in both stellar multiplicity and exoplanetary science. Furthermore, the broad and nonrestrictive access to these instruments, given by each Gemini Observatory partner and via the US NOIRLab open skies policy, has allowed the community to expand the applications of the instruments, supporting a wide range of scientific investigations from Solar System bodies, to morphological studies of stellar remnants and quasars, to evolved stars, to transient phenomena. This paper reviews the instrument technology and observational capabilities, and highlights key scientific contributions and discoveries of ‘Alopeke and Zorro, emphasizing the enduring importance of speckle interferometry in advancing modern observational astronomy and expanding the frontiers of astronomical research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-add06e0ee6994568be5d7c28d3b1ac0f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-987X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-add06e0ee6994568be5d7c28d3b1ac0f2025-08-20T02:34:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences2296-987X2025-06-011210.3389/fspas.2025.16084111608411Nearly a decade of groundbreaking speckle interferometry at the international Gemini observatorySteve B. Howell0Clara E. Martínez-Vázquez1Elise Furlan2Nicholas J. Scott3Rachel A. Matson4Colin Littlefield5Colin Littlefield6Catherine A. Clark7Kathryn V. Lester8Zachary D. Hartman9David R. Ciardi10Sarah J. Deveny11Sarah J. Deveny12Astrophysics and Space Science, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, United StatesInternational Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab, Hilo, HI, United StatesNASA Exoplanet Science Institute, Caltech/IPAC, Pasadena, CA, United StatesThe CHARA Array, Mt. Wilson, CA, United StatesU.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, DC, United StatesAstrophysics and Space Science, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, United StatesBay Area Environmental Research Institute, Moffett Field, CA, United StatesNASA Exoplanet Science Institute, Caltech/IPAC, Pasadena, CA, United StatesDepartment of Astronomy, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, United StatesAstrophysics and Space Science, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, United StatesNASA Exoplanet Science Institute, Caltech/IPAC, Pasadena, CA, United StatesAstrophysics and Space Science, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, United StatesBay Area Environmental Research Institute, Moffett Field, CA, United StatesSince its inception, speckle interferometry has revolutionized high-resolution astronomical imaging, overcoming atmospheric challenges to achieve the diffraction limits of telescopes. Almost a decade ago, in 2018, a pair of speckle cameras – ‘Alopeke and Zorro–were installed at two of the largest apertures in the world, the twin 8.1-m Gemini North and South telescopes in Hawai’i and Chile. Equipped with dual blue and red channels, ’Alopeke and Zorro deliver high-resolution imaging across the optical bandpass from 350 to 1,000 nm, which has led to crucial discoveries in both stellar multiplicity and exoplanetary science. Furthermore, the broad and nonrestrictive access to these instruments, given by each Gemini Observatory partner and via the US NOIRLab open skies policy, has allowed the community to expand the applications of the instruments, supporting a wide range of scientific investigations from Solar System bodies, to morphological studies of stellar remnants and quasars, to evolved stars, to transient phenomena. This paper reviews the instrument technology and observational capabilities, and highlights key scientific contributions and discoveries of ‘Alopeke and Zorro, emphasizing the enduring importance of speckle interferometry in advancing modern observational astronomy and expanding the frontiers of astronomical research.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2025.1608411/fullbinary starsplanet hosting starsspeckle interferometryastronomical techniqueshigh angular resolution |
| spellingShingle | Steve B. Howell Clara E. Martínez-Vázquez Elise Furlan Nicholas J. Scott Rachel A. Matson Colin Littlefield Colin Littlefield Catherine A. Clark Kathryn V. Lester Zachary D. Hartman David R. Ciardi Sarah J. Deveny Sarah J. Deveny Nearly a decade of groundbreaking speckle interferometry at the international Gemini observatory Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences binary stars planet hosting stars speckle interferometry astronomical techniques high angular resolution |
| title | Nearly a decade of groundbreaking speckle interferometry at the international Gemini observatory |
| title_full | Nearly a decade of groundbreaking speckle interferometry at the international Gemini observatory |
| title_fullStr | Nearly a decade of groundbreaking speckle interferometry at the international Gemini observatory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nearly a decade of groundbreaking speckle interferometry at the international Gemini observatory |
| title_short | Nearly a decade of groundbreaking speckle interferometry at the international Gemini observatory |
| title_sort | nearly a decade of groundbreaking speckle interferometry at the international gemini observatory |
| topic | binary stars planet hosting stars speckle interferometry astronomical techniques high angular resolution |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2025.1608411/full |
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