The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Project

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) will measure spectra of over 35 million galaxies and quasars across 14000 square degrees and use them to take the next step in constraining the nature of Dark Energy. DESI will accomplish these ambitious goals with a major refurbishment of the 4-m Mayall telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory and a new prime focus instrument that includes an eight square degree prime focus corrector, 5000 robotic fiber optic positioners, and ten broad-band spectrographs. The project is well underway and expects to begin commissioning in 2019. I will present an overview and status of the DESI project.