Future Observatory Instrumentation
PEGASUS concept would give HWO a sharper ultraviolet view
A 42-author proposal outlines a high-resolution spectrograph for planets, atmospheres, small bodies, stars, and the gas between galaxies.
Briefed September 10, 2026 · Aliens in the Clouds
Developing Concept · Not Selected Hardware
Annalisa De Cia and 41 co-authors presented PEGASUS, a proposed ultraviolet echelle spectrograph for the future Habitable Worlds Observatory or a dedicated mission. The concept targets resolving power near 100,000 over wavelengths from 90 to 400 nanometers, with a broader design range and a possible extension into visible light. The team says current high-resolution ultraviolet astronomy is largely limited to Hubble and relatively bright targets, so the next step requires at least an order-of-magnitude sensitivity gain.
The science case spans exoplanet atmospheres and habitability, protoplanetary disks, Solar System bodies, stellar evolution, supernovae, and the interstellar and intergalactic medium. High resolution could separate faint absorption and velocity structure that lower-resolution instruments blend together. PEGASUS remains a mission-instrument concept submitted to a special issue, not selected flight hardware; its performance, cost, interfaces, and schedule would require engineering review and program decisions.
Why it matters
Better ultraviolet spectra could reveal the stellar radiation and atmospheric escape that shape habitable environments, giving future planet claims physical context instead of a single suggestive feature.
What the source establishes
Verified new instrument-concept preprint. Proposed capability only; no approved instrument, launch commitment, biosignature, or technosignature is announced.
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