Revolutionary Planet-Hunting Instrument Enhances Very Large Telescope's Capabilities

The High-Resolution Imaging and Spectroscopy of Exoplanets (HiRISE) instrument has been installed on the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT), enhancing its imaging capabilities for exoplanet research. HiRISE combines the SPHERE imager with the upgraded CRIRES spectrograph, allowing for high-resolution spectroscopy and the characterization of exoplanet atmospheres. This cost-effective upgrade will aid in the study of exoplanet formation, composition, and evolution, and may serve as a pathfinder for future instruments on the Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs).