“Mirando as Estrelas” features a new episode about Brazilian researchers' participation in technology development for one of the world's most significant telescopes, located on the island of Hawaii
A new episode of the series Mirando as Estrelas , which explores the development of cutting-edge technology for one of the world's most significant telescopes – Subaru, located on the island of Hawaii – is now streaming. This is the 6th episode of the 1st season of the series, which is part of the scientific dissemination initiatives of the GMT Brazil project of the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), with the participation of researchers from USP's Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences (IAG). The video is now available on GMT Brazil's channel
The production covers Brazilian professionals' participation in the design and manufacture of the Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) instrument, which can study the chemical composition and physical properties of celestial objects, among other scientific purposes. After going into operation in March 2025, the spectrograph became the Subaru telescope's most significant instrument. The video features the participation of IAG professor Laerte Sodré Jr., coordinator of the PFS project in Brazil and of GMT-FAPESP, to comment on Brazil's participation in the optical fiber system for the PFS.
Inaugurated in 1999, the Subaru Telescope is the most significant telescope operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. Combining its privileged location on the best astronomical site on the planet – the top of Mauna Kea mountain – and its monolithic mirror 8.2 meters in diameter, Subaru is known for creating cosmic maps and discovering ancient galaxies. This optical and infrared telescope is equipped with various instruments, including high-resolution cameras and spectrographs, the most recent upgrade being the Prime Focus Spectrograph.
Scientific dissemination project
The Mirando as Estrelas series, with episodes available on YouTube at this link explores the history of astronomical instrumentation in Brazil and highlights major national and international projects that currently involve Brazilian scientists, engineers, and technicians in the design and cutting-edge technological development of some of the world's most important telescopes. This is a scientific dissemination initiative based on a partnership between the Brazilian office GMT Brazil, IAG, and FAPESP, organized by TV Univap and supported by the National Astrophysics Laboratory.
The series' guests are renowned professionals from some of Brazil's leading research institutions, including Claudia Vilega Rodrigues (National Institute for Space Research – INPE), Bruno Vaz Castilho and Luciano Fraga (National Astrophysics Laboratory – LNA), and Claudia Mendes de Oliveira, Laerte Sodré Jr., and Rafael Ribeiro (IAG – USP).
Since 2014, FAPESP has been a founding member of the GMTO consortium, with an investment of US$50 million, equivalent to 4% of the telescope's annual operating time for scientists from the state of São Paulo.
The Brazilian team includes more than 70 professionals from different areas, including professors, consultants, technicians, and scholarship holders. These form the GMT Brazil Office (GMTBrO), which is currently led by IAG. This team also includes professors and collaborators from USP's Institute of Physics and School of Engineering, the Mauá Institute of Technology, the State University of Campinas's (Unicamp) Institute of Physics, the University of Vale do Paraíba (Univap), among others. They are directly involved in designing and producing the astronomical instruments that will be used in the GMT telescope.
More information about the project can be found on the website https://www.gmt.iag.usp.br or on social media YouTube Facebook Instagram , and Twitter
Click on the player below to watch the full episode:
*Text: GMT Brazil Communications Office
English version: Nexus Traduções, edited by Denis Pacheco
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