The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) will map the 3-dimensional distribution of 10s of millions of galaxies thereby constraining the effects of dark energy on the geometry and growth of structures of the Universe matter density field. The DESI instrument will implement a new highly multiplexed optical spectrograph on the Mayall Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, 55 miles from Tucson.
A new optical corrector design creates a very large, 8.0 square degree field of view on the sky. The focal plane accommodates 5,000 small computer controlled fiber positioners, which can be reconfigured for the next exposure in less than two minutes while the telescope slews to the next field.