Proto-NUX: A New Telescope for the Near Ultraviolet

Every month, we invite an expert to give a lecture on his or her field of expertise. This speaker explains one or more aspects of astronomy, meteorology, and/or space exploration and makes them accessible to a broader audience.

Proto-NUX is a new telescope designed for a part of the spectrum that has been little studied: the near-ultraviolet range between 300 and 350 nanometers. It is precisely in this wavelength range that the earliest, hottest phases of rapid cosmic bursts—such as supernovae and events that can also generate gravitational waves—can be observed.
During the lecture, Rudy Wijnands will explain how Proto-NUX was developed: from the initial design and the special filters to its construction, testing, and the first observations at the Pic du Midi in the French Pyrenees. He will also look ahead to plans for permanently installing the telescope at an observation site in Spain.
What’s remarkable is that the same instrument has also proven suitable for research on Earth’s atmosphere. Because ozone strongly absorbs ultraviolet light, Proto-NUX can not only study cosmic explosions but also contribute to research on the ozone layer. In this way, the telescope forms a beautiful link between astronomy, space research, and meteorology.

About the Speaker
Prof. Rudy Wijnands studied astronomy in Leiden and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Amsterdam. After holding research positions in the United States and Scotland, he returned to the University of Amsterdam in 2004, where he has been a professor since 2017. His research focuses on extreme phenomena such as neutron stars, black holes, and supernovae. In recent years, he has also devoted himself to observations in the near-ultraviolet and the development of new telescopes, including Proto-NUX.