The Nirps instrument, a new eye turned to the sky in Chile

The Near-Infrared Planet Searcher (NIPS) is a brand new high-resolution spectrograph designed to detect exoplanets, these planets that orbit around stars other than our sun, and study their atmospheres. In addition, In a study published today in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysicsthe international team behind Nirps presents the design of the instrument. For example, its first observations and its first scientific results.

Installed on the 3.6 -meter -meter telescope of the Silla Observatory, Chile, Nirps officially started its scientific mission in April 2023. Nevertheless, Its development. Moreover, construction were made possible thanks to the collaboration of a large consortium bringing together scientists from Canada, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, France and Brazil, with the precious support of the European Austral Observatory (ESO). However, More than 140 specialists contributed to the project. However, including an important team from the Mont-Mégantic Observatory (OMM) and the nirps instrument, new eye turned Trottier de Research Institute on Exoplanets (IREX).

Above: the NIRPS instrument installed on the 3.6 m telescope at La Silla, in Chile. For example, Below: a spectrum of the Star Proxima Centauri, our nearest neighbor, obtained during preliminary tests in June 2023. Moreover, Credit: Etienne Artigau

Designed to observe in the nearby infrared. Moreover, NIRPS particularly targets the cold and red stars called dwarf M, which are the most numerous in the galaxy. Meanwhile, These stars emit their light mainly in the infrared. Meanwhile, which makes nirps ideal for detecting small planets, similar to the earth, in orbit around these stars. Nevertheless, The instrument is also particularly well suited to the nirps instrument, new eye turned study of exoplanet atmospheres. However, Nirps has been designed to operate in tandem with another well -known spectrograph called Harps (High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher). Moreover, which has observed in the visible and operates on the same telescope since 2003. Consequently, Together. For example, Nirps and Harps offer the rare capacity to observe the same star both in the visible and in the infrared, which allows you to better distinguish the real planetary signals of ” noise “caused by stellar activity (such as eruptions, tasks or magnetic activity), which can sometimes imitate the presence of a planet. In addition. Therefore, Nirps is equipped with an adaptive optical system, which corrects the distortions caused by the atmosphere of the earth, thus improving the quality of the images while keeping the compact and effective instrument.

“NIRPS is the result of the experience acquired with previous spectrographs. Meanwhile, innovative technologies and an nirps instrument, new eye turned exceptional international collaboration,” explains François Bouchy, of the Geneva Observatory and Professor at the University of Geneva, main author of the study and main co-researcher of Nirps. “We are proud of the work accomplished and impatient to see what the future has in store for us.”

Nirps in search of exoplanets

NIRPs and harps detect exoplanets using the radial speed method. The aim of it is to detect the tiny back. forth movements of a star caused by the presence of an orbit planet. Even if the planet is not visible directly. one can infer its presence by measuring these tiny variations in the speed of the star. Detecting a planet as light as the earth around a dwarf M is a major challenge: this requires precision. of the order of one meter per second (or 3.6 km/h). Such precision is already difficult to reach in the visible, nirps instrument, new eye turned and even more infrared, the area in which Nirps operates. In addition to detecting the planets, NIRPs also makes it possible to analyze their atmospheres. His sensitivity to infrared makes it possible to detect key chemical signatures such as water vapor, helium or methane.

“NIRPS allows us to explore a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum with an ever previously affected precision. ” said René Doyon, director of OMM and IREX, professor at the University of Montreal and the main co-researcher of Nirps. “For the first time. we reach a precision below the meter per second in infrared, comparable to that of the best instruments in the visible.”

In exchange for the construction of the instrument. the consortium was granted by the ESO 725 nights of observation guaranteed with NIRPs. This observation time is used by the NIRPS scientific team for three main objectives: to look for planets around dwarf M. nirps instrument, new eye turned to measure the mass of known planets discovered by other methods, and to study the atmospheres of a varied range of exoplanets.

The Nirps scientific team, in the fall of 2024. Credit: NIRPS Consortium

“As part of the guaranteed observation time, we have access to 40 % of the time of the 3.6 meter telescope, which means that we receive new data almost every day! »Explains Lison Malo, project manager of the NIRPS instrument at the OMM and IREX. “This allows a large team of astronomers to work continuously with new observations from Nirps.”

First Nirps results

Nirps demonstrated its scientific nirps instrument, new eye turned power from its first months of operation. A team led by Alejandro Suárez Mascareño from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias. the University of La Laguna, Spain) confirmed the presence of Proxima Centauri B, a planet similar to the land located in the habitable area of our nearest star. The team also found clues of a second planet, even less massive, orbit around the same star. This underlines the great sensitivity of NIRPs to low -mass planets. These results are detailed in a study published today in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Another study. also published today and managed by Romain Allart from Irex at the University of Montreal, reveals the presence of a helium gas tail escaping from the atmosphere of Wasp-69 B, an exoplanet of the mass of Saturn. This most detailed observation to date has new information on the evolution of planetary atmospheres under the effect of. intense stellar nirps instrument, new eye turned radiation.

“Thanks to the exceptional quality of NIPS data. we can study the atmospheres of exoplanets in detail like never before,” explains Romain Allart. “With the guaranteed observation time. we can follow the same stars and their planets for several years to understand the evolution of their climate.”

Nirps’ future

Nirps will play a key role in identifying the most promising targets for atmospheric follow -up with the James Webb space telescope (JWST). and later, in the search for biosignatures with the future European giant telescope (ELT), currently under construction.

It also serves as a test bench for the development of the Andes spectrograph (Highzons High Dispersion Echelle Specrograph). a second generation instrument intended for the ELT. One of Nirps’ scientific objectives is to study the stars closest to the sun. identify planetary systems that will constitute ideal targets for Andes. NIRPS thus acts as a prototype for nirps instrument, new eye turned this future instrument. sharing several key technological characteristics such as high -resolution spectroscopy in infrared and adaptive optics, essential capacities to probe atmospheres of planets similar to the earth in search of signs of life.

About studies

“Nirps Joining Harps at the ESO 3.6m: On-Sky Performance. Science Objectifs”, led by François Bouchy from the Geneva Observatory to University of Geneva, was published today in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. The team also includes 32 co-authors of the Trottier de Recherche Institute on exoplanets. the Mont-Mégantic observatory, and 109 other co-authors of Germany, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Spain, France, Portugal, and Switzerland.

“Diving Into the Planetary System of Proxima with Nirps: Breaking the Metre Per Second Barrier in the Infrared” by Alejandro Suárez Mascareño. was published today in the renuveAstronomy & Astrophysics. The team also includes 37 co-authors from the Trottier de Recherche Institute on exoplanets. the Mont-Mégantic Observatory, and nirps instrument, new eye turned 101 other co-authors of Germany, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Spain, France, Portugal, and Switzerland.

“Nirps Detection of Delayed Atmospheric Escape from the warm and Misalignéd Saturn-Mass Exoplanet wasp-69 b?”, Led by Romain Allart de l’Irex, was published today in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. Additionally, The team also includes 26 co-authors from the Trottier de Recherche Institute on exoplanets. the Mont-Mégantic Observatory, and 113 other co-authors of Germany, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Spain, France, Portugal, and Switzerland.

Media contact

Frédérique Baron
Research Trottier Institute on Exoplanets / Observatory of Mont-Mégantic
University of Montreal
[email protected]
+1 514-343-6111 #3195

Scientific contacts

René Doyon
Researcher
Research Trottier Institute on Exoplanets/ Observatory of Mont-Mégantic
University of Montreal
[email protected]

Lison opposite
Researcher
Research Trottier Institute on Exoplanets/ Observatory of Mont-Mégantic
University of Montreal
[email protected]

Romain Allart
Researcher
Trottier research institute on exoplanets
University of Montreal
[email protected]
+1 438 345 9086

Liens

• Scientific articles
  • AA53341-24 – NIRPS joining HARPS at ESO 3.6 m. nirps instrument, new eye turned On-sky performance and science objectives –  F. Bouchy et al. 2025, A&A, 700, A10
  • AA53728-25 –  Diving into the planetary system of Proxima with NIRPS. Breaking the metre per second barrier in the infrared – A. Suarez Mascareno et al. 2025. A&A, 700, A11
  • AA52525-24 –  NIRPS detection of delayed atmospheric escape from the warm and misaligned Saturn-mass exoplanet WASP-69 b –  R. Allart et al, 2025, A&A, 700, A7
• Press release from the University of Montreal (upcoming)

Nirps instrument, new eye turned

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