NuAncestor: an artificial satellite-borne star for accurate frequency calibration of ground-based EPRV spectrographs
Abstract
The accuracy of state-of-the-art Extreme Precision Radial Velocity (EPRV) spectrographs depends on the access to extremely precise and stable wavelength calibration sources. There are several available calibration sources (e.g., emission lamps, laser frequency combs, reference cavities) that can be used to calibrate an astronomical spectrograph. However, the calibration as it is currently performed is always 'local'. In the proposed talk we will present the NuAncestor concept that proposes an accurate (absolute) and common wavelength calibration for astronomical high-resolution, high-precision spectrographs by embarking an optical frequency comb on-board a satellite equipped with an actively pointing telescope and precision orbitography. This calibration satellite shall be available and serve EPRV spectrographs in all major observatories around the world.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2507.08413,
title = {NuAncestor: an artificial satellite-borne star for accurate frequency calibration of ground-based EPRV spectrographs},
author = {F. Pepe and M. Bugatti and A. Baur and J. Berney and E. Bozzo and C. Broeg and B. Crazzolara and A. Deep and F. Droz and J. Figuereido and H. Haile and L. Jolissaint and S. Lecomte and J. Moerschell and Ch. Mordasini and E. Obrzud and C. Praplan and M. Sarajlic and B. Soja and M. Van den Broeck},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2507.08413},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
Proceedings of the SPIE conference, Volume 13100, Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation VI; 131005W