Unveiling the
Hidden Drivers of
Galaxy Growth

CELESTE pairs a small space-borne laser guide star with the world's largest ground telescopes — delivering the sensitivity and resolution of a 39-meter space telescope, at a fraction of the cost, this decade.

Explore the science → Mission brief →
~3 mas
Angular resolution at 500 nm — twelve times sharper than Hubble.
39 m
Equivalent space-telescope aperture, achieved hybridly.
6 – 8
Technology readiness level. Flight-proven, on-sky tested.
2018
In active development since. First on-sky results in 2024.
The Science
01 · Science

CELESTE addresses decadal priority science

Revolutionizing our understanding of the origin, evolution and complexity of galaxies

Explore the science →
The Technology
02 · Technology

Proven, tested, ready.

A robust Space Flight system and instruments that enable mission success. No tecnology developent is required.

See how it works →
Programmatic Details
03 · Programmatic

A credible management, schedule, and cost approach

CELESTE is supported by a capable management team, a feasible cost plan, and appropriate identification and mitigation of cost and schedule risks.

Read key messages →
The giant ground observatories CELESTE is built to serve. More video & press →
In conversation

CELESTE and the Little Red Dots.

A panel discussion on the compact red sources JWST has turned up in the young universe — what their integrated light does and does not tell us, and what it would take to resolve the structures behind them.

Runtime 43 minutes · hosted on YouTube. Read the science case →

What's Next

The detailed mission brief is open and public.

Science cases, full system architecture, and the programmatic plan are documented in briefs available for review.