A team of Portuguese researchers is preparing to install a new solar telescope in the Atacama Desert of Chile, poised to deliver unprecedented insights into our sun and potentially unlock secrets of exoplanets. The telescope, named POET (Paranal solar EXPRESSO Telescope), represents a fully Portuguese-developed instrument for the European Southern Observatory (ESO).
The 12-member research team from the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences, with members from the Universities of Lisbon and Porto, departed for the Paranal Observatory on Saturday, March 14, 2026, to begin the three-week installation process. The equipment itself was partially constructed in the Science laboratories of the University of Lisbon, with some structural components manufactured in Italy, according to physical engineer Alexandre Cabral.
POET is designed to operate remotely, requiring minimal on-site maintenance – potentially only annual visits for programming updates. “It’s almost as if it were a robot,” Cabral explained. Scientists anticipate the telescope will begin collecting data on April 8, 2026.
The project’s primary goal is to enhance our understanding of stellar activity, with a particular focus on exoplanets and Earth-like star systems. Rather than discovering new exoplanets, the team aims to gather more detailed information about those already identified – of which nearly 6,000 have been detected in our galaxy. This focus on detailed analysis signals a shift in exoplanet research towards characterizing potentially habitable worlds.
Installed at an altitude of 2,600 meters within one of the world’s leading astronomy observatories, POET is unique in its ability to observe the sun during the day. The telescope’s development, which began four years ago, marks the first time ESO has deployed a fully Portuguese-developed instrument.
While Portugal has a growing space technology sector, this project highlights the country’s increasing role in international astronomical research. The telescope’s capabilities are expected to contribute significantly to the ongoing search for life beyond Earth.
