This is a fibre fed infrared multi object spectrograph that shall be mounted on the ESO 8.2 m VLT telescope. It will deploy 1000 fibres over a field of view of 20′ diameter. The fibres will feed two spectrographs that can be operated either at low resolving power (R 4000 - 6000) or at higher resolving power in selected regions (R 9000 in the I band and R 20000 in the H band).
The Observatoire de Paris designed, procured and tested the MOONS fibres and provided the data reduction software. As such some of its researchers will take part in the Guaranteed Time Observations of 300 nights, with which ESO shall compensate the efforts of the consortium.
Researchers at the Pole Etoiles et Galaxies will lead the GTO surveys aimed at the Sgr dwarf spheroidal galaxy, and at the discovery of extremely metal-poor stars. They will also participate to the other Milky Way and Milky Way satellites surveys. The experience gained in the GTO surveys will be precious to design and propose open time observations with MOONS.
