First light for the next-generation spectrograph WEAVE

WEAVE pointed at Stephan's Quintet for the first-light observation. In this observation mode, it collects light from 547 points in the sky for analysis by the spectrograph. The observation provides physical information from each distinct region of each galaxy as well as from the space in between. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI (background image); Aladin (fibre overlay) - WEAVE has carried out its first-light observations on Stephan's Quintet, a group of five galaxies, some of which are undergoing collision. They provide a demonstration of its exceptional capabilities and hold out the promise of major discoveries. WEAVE, a new spectrograph on the William Herschel Telescope (Canary Islands, Spain), has successfully carried out first-light observations of a group of five galaxies called Stephan's Quintet, thus demonstrating its unprecedented capabilities and providing the astronomical community with the promise of many new discoveries. In France, WEAVE was supported by the CNRS, the Paris Observatory-PSL and the Côte d'Azur Observatory.