In short, the astronomical community is in for one of the biggest scientific advances in the field of exoplanets. Over there, they’re hard at work installing PLACID, a new, cutting edge instrument that will enable direct imaging of exoplanets. PLACID is now in the final phase of installation at the 4-meter DAG telescope in Turkey. Its first astronomical targets are expected as soon as the first quarter of 2026. The new instrument is based on Liquid-crystal Active Coronagraphic Imager technology. Its establishment represents an extremely exciting breakthrough within the field, marking as it does the first completely European initiative in the northern hemisphere to directly image distant worlds.
Shortly into 2024, we deployed PLACID to Turkey. It was subsequently transported to the DAG telescope for integration in January 2025. PLACID’s unprecedented capabilities will allow us to revolutionize our understanding of exoplanets. It will enable astronomers to directly image such distant celestial bodies, sidestepping limitations that have stood as the bounds of possibility until this moment.
The Technology Behind PLACID
PLACID employs cutting-edge Liquid-crystal Active Coronagraphic Imager technology that affords incredibly accurate control over the behavior of light. This new capability is what allows us to isolate the light from exoplanets. It makes it much easier to see these planets compared to the glare of their parent stars.
Ruben Tandon, a key member of the PLACID team, explained the innovation behind this technology:
“We use SLM screens all the time in everyday devices, such as our phones, TVs or computers. In PLACID, the liquid crystals influence how the light passes through each pixel, so we can display any mask we want, giving us an extreme adaptability.”
It’s this adaptability that astronomers depend on to make pinpoint adjustments. They can immediately change the mask so that it doesn’t let in light from specific star systems. It’s precision that will bring observations of exoplanets into focus as never before.
Integration with Adaptive Optics
To realize PLACID’s full potential, complement it with an adaptive optics (AO) system. This innovative bottom impact protection system was developed by Professor Laurent Jolissaint’s team from HEIG-VD. The AO system is an essential component for correcting atmospheric turbulence, which wreaks permanent havoc on the high-quality images that ground-based telescopes can capture.
Derya Öztürk Çetni expressed optimism about PLACID’s integration with the AO system:
“We are happy to welcome PLACID. Its capacities, coupled with our 4-meter class telescope, will lead to the first fully European instrument in the northern hemisphere able to directly image exoplanets.”
Astronomers are excited about reducing atmospheric disturbances thanks to this partnership. As a result, they hope to take sharper, more reliable images of exoplanets.
Future Observations and Goals
PLACID now is beginning its integration and validation phase. Astronomers here at STScI and around the world eagerly await JWST’s first on-sky observations, expected in early 2026. The instrument will initially target a handful of exoplanets that have previously been directly imaged. This cross-cutting approach will enable researchers to continually push the frontier on their techniques and methodologies.
PLACID will accomplish a historic first by directly imaging exoplanets orbiting binary stars. This endeavor represents an unprecedented challenge that could yield invaluable insights into planetary formation and evolution in complex star systems.
Prof. Jonas Kühn highlighted the significance of these advancements:
“With recent developments in technology and the construction of increasingly large telescopes, the future of exoplanet detection lies in direct imaging. PLACID is one of the stepping stones towards this future.”