  We report on the experimental realization of a robust and efficient
magneto-optical trap for erbium atoms, based on a narrow cooling transition at
583nm. We observe up to $N=2 \times 10^{8}$ atoms at a temperature of about
$T=15 \mu K$. This simple scheme provides better starting conditions for direct
loading of dipole traps as compared to approaches based on the strong cooling
transition alone, or on a combination of a strong and a narrow kHz transition.
Our results on Er point to a general, simple and efficient approach to laser
cool samples of other lanthanide atoms (Ho, Dy, and Tm) for the production of
quantum-degenerate samples.
