Visible Multi Object Spectrograph

The instrument used for deep astronomical surveys delivers visible images and spectra of up to 1,000 galaxies at a time.

The Franco-Italian instrument operates in the visible part of the spectrum from 360 to 1000 nanometers (nm).

In the conceptual design phase, the multi-object spectrograph then called VIRMOS included an additional instrument, NIMOS, operating in the near-infrared spectrum of 1100–1800 nm.

[3] Operating in the three different observation modes, direct imaging, multi-slit spectroscopy, and integral field spectroscopy, the main objective of the instrument is to study the early universe through massive redshift surveys, such as the VIMOS-VLT Deep Survey.

[4] VIMOS saw its first light on 26 February 2002, and has since been mounted on the Nasmyth B focus of VLT's Melipal unit telescope (UT3).