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arXiv · 2601.02556

The Lazuli Space Observatory: Architecture & Capabilities

Arpita Roy·Stuart Feldman·Pete Klupar·John DiPalma·Saul Perlmutter·Ewan S. Douglas·Greg Aldering·Gabor Furesz·Patrick Ingraham·Gudmundur Stefansson·Douglas Kelly·Fan Yang Yang·Thomas Wevers·Nicole Arulanantham·James Lasker·Mickael Rigault·Everett Schlawin·Sander R. Zandbergen·S. Pete Worden·Ramya Anche·Heejoo Choi·Ian J. M. Crossfield·Kevin Derby·Jerry Edelstein·Mike Eiklenborg·Suvi Gezari·Paul Giuliano·Justin Hom·Taylor J. Hoyt·Hyukmo Kang·Daewook Kim·Keerthi Kunnumkai·Leander Lacroix·Jared R. Males·Thomas J. Maccarone·Kian Milani·Timothy N. Miller·Kelsey Lynn Miller·Pierre Nicolas·Antonella Palmese·Jason Pero·Laurent Pueyo·Stephanie Rinaldi·David J. Sand·Christian Schneider·Sanchit Sabhlok·Arfon Smith·Irina I. Stefan·Saraswathi Kalyani Subramanian·Kyle Van Gorkom·Andre F. Wong·Jaegun Yoo·Md Abdullah Al Zaman·the Lazuli Science Team
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Abstract

The Lazuli Space Observatory is a 3-meter aperture astronomical facility designed for rapid-response observations and precision astrophysics across visible to near-infrared wavelengths (400-1700 nm bandpass). An off-axis, freeform telescope delivers diffraction-limited image quality (Strehl $>$0.8 at 633 nm) to three instruments across a wide, flat focal plane. The three instruments provide complementary capabilities: a Wide-field Context Camera (WCC) delivers multi-band imaging over a 35' $\times$ 12' footprint with high-cadence photometry; an Integral Field Spectrograph (IFS) provides continuous 400-1700 nm spectroscopy at R $\sim$ 100-500 for stable spectrophotometry; and an ExtraSolar Coronagraph (ESC) enables high-contrast imaging expected to reach raw contrasts of $10^{-8}$ and post-processed contrasts approaching $10^{-9}$. Operating from a 3:1 lunar-resonant orbit, Lazuli will respond to targets of opportunity in under four hours--a programmatic requirement designed to enable routine temporal responsiveness that is unprecedented for a space telescope of this size. Lazuli's technical capabilities are shaped around three broad science areas: (1) time-domain and multi-messenger astronomy, (2) stars and planets, and (3) cosmology. These capabilities enable a potent mix of science spanning gravitational wave counterpart characterization, fast-evolving transients, Type Ia supernova cosmology, high-contrast exoplanet imaging, and spectroscopy of exoplanet atmospheres. While these areas guide the observatory design, Lazuli is conceived as a general-purpose facility capable of supporting a wide range of astrophysical investigations, with open time for the global community. We describe the observatory architecture and capabilities in the preliminary design phase, with science operations anticipated following a rapid development cycle from concept to launch. [Abstract abridged]

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Arpita Roy, Stuart Feldman, Pete Klupar, John DiPalma, Saul Perlmutter, Ewan S. Douglas, Greg Aldering, Gabor Furesz, Patrick Ingraham, Gudmundur Stefansson, Douglas Kelly, Fan Yang Yang, Thomas Wevers, Nicole Arulanantham, James Lasker, Mickael Rigault, Everett Schlawin, Sander R. Zandbergen, S. Pete Worden, Ramya Anche, Heejoo Choi, Ian J. M. Crossfield, Kevin Derby, Jerry Edelstein, Mike Eiklenborg, Suvi Gezari, Paul Giuliano, Justin Hom, Taylor J. Hoyt, Hyukmo Kang, Daewook Kim, Keerthi Kunnumkai, Leander Lacroix, Jared R. Males, Thomas J. Maccarone, Kian Milani, Timothy N. Miller, Kelsey Lynn Miller, Pierre Nicolas, Antonella Palmese, Jason Pero, Laurent Pueyo, Stephanie Rinaldi, David J. Sand, Christian Schneider, Sanchit Sabhlok, Arfon Smith, Irina I. Stefan, Saraswathi Kalyani Subramanian, Kyle Van Gorkom, Andre F. Wong, Jaegun Yoo, Md Abdullah Al Zaman, the Lazuli Science Team. 2026-01-05. The Lazuli Space Observatory: Architecture & Capabilities. https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.02556

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