Lecture | Tuesday Talk
The Telescopes and Instruments of Tomorrow
- Date
- Tuesday 10 February 2026
- Time
- Location
-
Gorlaeus Building
Einsteinweg 55
2333 CC Leiden - Room
- CM1.26
What if we could observe planets orbiting distant stars with the same clarity as those in our own solar system? The next generation of giant telescopes will make that vision a reality—pushing the boundaries of what we can see, measure, and understand about our universe.
Join us for this Tuesday Talk, where Leiden astronomer Sebastiaan Haffert reveals how cutting-edge optical technologies and AI-driven instruments are reshaping the future of astronomy—and bringing us closer to answering one of humanity’s oldest questions: Are we alone?
Join this Tuesday Talk
Everyone who is interested in this edition's topic is welcome. Please let us know if you are attending.
RegisterProgramme
The programme of the Tuesday Talk is:
| 15.45 hrs | Take a seat |
| 16.00 hrs | Tuesday Talks: Science Insights |
| 17.00 hrs | Drinks |
Beyond the Limits of Light
To reach the extraordinary precision required for exoplanet discovery and other frontiers of astrophysics, new technologies are essential. Inspired by quantum metrology, researchers are developing optical instruments built with metasurfaces—ultra-thin, nanostructured layers that can manipulate light in ways traditional optics never could. Coupled with physics-aware machine learning and digital twin models, these instruments can interpret complex optical signals and push telescope performance beyond classical limits.
At Leiden Observatory, this innovative fusion of hardware and AI-driven modelling is guiding the design of a dedicated direct imaging instrument for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT)—one capable of detecting and characterising distant, potentially habitable worlds beyond our Solar System.
About the speaker
Sebastiaan Haffert is an astronomer at Leiden Observatory, where he develops advanced optical systems for next-generation telescopes. He recently received the 2025 New Horizons in Physics Prize for pioneering techniques that allow telescopes to correct for atmospheric distortion—making it possible to directly image distant exoplanets. His research combines quantum metrology, adaptive optics, and AI to design the instruments that will power tomorrow’s astronomical discoveries.
About the Tuesday Talks
The Tuesday Talks are Leiden Science’s monthly dose of research inspiration from our staff, for our staff and all others curious minds. Every second Tuesday of the month from 16:00 hrs till 17:00 hrs, drinks and meet up afterwards till 18.00 hrs.