Mirror-slicer Array for Astronomical Transients MAAT First Light at GTC on 24 May 2026
MAAT First Light at SPIE 2026 
MAAT* (Mirror-slicer Array for Astronomical Transients) is a mirror-slicer optical system that will allow the OSIRIS spectrograph on the GTC the capability to perform Integral-Field Spectroscopy (IFS) over a seeing-limited FoV of 10'' x 7.0'' with a slice width of 0.305''. MAAT will enhance the resolution power of OSIRIS by 1.6 times with respect to its 0.6'' wide long-slit. All the eleven OSIRIS Grisms and VPHs will be available to provide broad spectral coverage with low / moderate resolution (R=600 up to 4100) in the 360 - 1000 nm spectral range.
MAAT top-level requirements will broaden its use to the needs of the GTC community for a wide range of outstanding science topics that covers the entire astronomy given its unique observing capabilities well beyond time-domain astronomy. MAAT@GTC will also play a fundamental role in synergy with other facilities operating at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos at La Palma, Spain.
White Paper on MAAT@GTC
MAAT Presentation on Youtube
*MAAT refers to the ancient Egyptian concepts of truth, balance, order, harmony, law, morality, justice, and cosmic order. MAAT was also personified as a goddess who regulates the stars, seasons, and the actions of gods and mortals, who imposed order on the universe of chaos at the time of its creation.