Our own backyard, resolved.
From near-Earth asteroids to the outermost reaches of the Kuiper Belt, CELESTE provides spacecraft-equivalent resolution on demand — without the decade-long journey.
Imagery · ESO
Key Science Topic
Solar
Solar
System.
Spacecraft-class angular resolution at ground-based cadence — resolved asteroids, outer-planet weather, Kuiper Belt objects, and rapid response to transient events.
The outer Solar System presents a vast laboratory for planetary science that current facilities can observe only at low resolution, or only with rare spacecraft flybys. CELESTE changes this: at 12 mas resolution, even mid-sized Kuiper Belt objects become resolved sources, and the cloud decks of Uranus and Neptune can be mapped at the detail level previously requiring a space mission.
Unlike a spacecraft, CELESTE can revisit any target within hours. Weather systems on giant planets, outbursts from active asteroids, and the rotation state of newly discovered KBOs can all be tracked at cadences impossible for any dedicated planetary mission.
The Brief
i.
Science Objectives
Resolve surface features and atmosphere dynamics on Solar System bodies from asteroids to ice giants. Track weather systems and storms on outer planets at cadences matching atmospheric timescales. Characterise the shapes, albedo patterns, and rotation states of large Kuiper Belt objects.
ii.
Observables & Measurements
Resolved multi-band imaging of planetary disks, asteroid surfaces, and KBO shapes. Time-series imaging for rotation curves and weather tracking. Color maps distinguishing compositional units on small-body surfaces.
iii.
Key Functional Requirements
Angular resolution ≤ 15 mas for sub-100 km features on Uranus and Neptune. Rapid target-of-opportunity scheduling (hours) for transient event response. Multi-band filter coverage for compositional mapping.
iv.
CELESTE Uniqueness
No ground-based facility currently achieves the diffraction limit in the visible. CELESTE provides the same angular resolution as a dedicated planetary orbiter — from the ground, at any cadence, with no mission travel time. Solar System science rides free on every orbit without consuming dedicated mission resources.