iLocater is a next-generation spectrograph under development for the the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT), Arizona. The development is led jointly by the University of Notre Dame and The Ohio State University.
Designed to study planets orbiting stars other than the Sun (exoplanets), iLocater uses the radial velocity technique to detect the presence of these distant worlds. The instrument has been designed to make extreme precision radial velocity (EPRV) measurements, allowing tiny changes in the color of light from a planets host star to be detected. These changes allow scientists to both discover and characterize exoplanets, and studies with iLocater will help build a more complete picture of how our solar system compares to other planetary systems elsewhere in our galaxy.
iLocater was featured as part of the Notre Dame What Would You Fight For? series during the 2014 Notre Dame vs. Michigan football game.
Program Sponsors
The development of iLocater has been supported by:
- The National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1654125 and 2108603.
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Space Act Agreement No. 38232
- The Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation
