The Lazuli Space Observatory: Architecture & Capabilities
Abstract
The Lazuli Space Observatory is a 3-meter aperture astronomical facility designed for rapid-response observations and precision astrophysics across visible to near-infrared wavelengths (400-1700 nm bandpass). An off-axis, freeform telescope delivers diffraction-limited image quality (Strehl 0.8 at 633 nm) to three instruments across a wide, flat focal plane. The three instruments provide complementary capabilities: a Wide-field Context Camera (WCC) delivers multi-band imaging over a 35' 12' footprint with high-cadence photometry; an Integral Field Spectrograph (IFS) provides continuous 400-1700 nm spectroscopy at R 100-500 for stable spectrophotometry; and an ExtraSolar Coronagraph (ESC) enables high-contrast imaging expected to reach raw contrasts of and post-processed contrasts approaching . Operating from a 3:1 lunar-resonant orbit, Lazuli will respond to targets of opportunity in under four hours--a programmatic requirement designed to enable routine temporal responsiveness that is unprecedented for a space telescope of this size. Lazuli's technical capabilities are shaped around three broad science areas: (1) time-domain and multi-messenger astronomy, (2) stars and planets, and (3) cosmology. These capabilities enable a potent mix of science spanning gravitational wave counterpart characterization, fast-evolving transients, Type Ia supernova cosmology, high-contrast exoplanet imaging, and spectroscopy of exoplanet atmospheres. While these areas guide the observatory design, Lazuli is conceived as a general-purpose facility capable of supporting a wide range of astrophysical investigations, with open time for the global community. We describe the observatory architecture and capabilities in the preliminary design phase, with science operations anticipated following a rapid development cycle from concept to launch.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2601.02556,
title = {The Lazuli Space Observatory: Architecture & Capabilities},
author = {Arpita Roy and Stuart Feldman and Pete Klupar and John DiPalma and Saul Perlmutter and Ewan S. Douglas and Greg Aldering and Gabor Furesz and Patrick Ingraham and Gudmundur Stefansson and Douglas Kelly and Fan Yang Yang and Thomas Wevers and Nicole Arulanantham and James Lasker and Mickael Rigault and Everett Schlawin and Sander R. Zandbergen and S. Pete Worden and Ramya Anche and Heejoo Choi and Ian J. M. Crossfield and Kevin Derby and Jerry Edelstein and Mike Eiklenborg and Suvi Gezari and Paul Giuliano and Justin Hom and Taylor J. Hoyt and Hyukmo Kang and Daewook Kim and Keerthi Kunnumkai and Leander Lacroix and Jared R. Males and Thomas J. Maccarone and Kian Milani and Timothy N. Miller and Kelsey Lynn Miller and Pierre Nicolas and Antonella Palmese and Jason Pero and Laurent Pueyo and Stephanie Rinaldi and David J. Sand and Christian Schneider and Sanchit Sabhlok and Arfon Smith and Irina I. Stefan and Saraswathi Kalyani Subramanian and Kyle Van Gorkom and Andre F. Wong and Jaegun Yoo and Md Abdullah Al Zaman and the Lazuli Science Team},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.02556},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
33 pages, 15 figures, 1 table