What the world's largest telescope will look like: its construction is in the final stages. Photos and videos
The construction of the world's largest telescope is in its final stages. The last stages include the construction of the dome, the central structure, and the base for the large mirror.
The European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) – the world's largest visible and infrared telescope – is currently under construction on Mount Cerro Armazones in Chile's Atacama Desert. This research giant will see its "first light" by 2028 to observe Earth-like exoplanets and their atmospheres, as well as to measure the expansion of the Universe, Space.com writes.
"The extra-large telescope will be one of the main flagships of the European Southern Observatory for the next two decades," ESO said in a statement.
The construction of the Extremely Large Telescope is progressing along with the dome structure and the housing for the main mirror.
Source: Screenshot
When completed, the M1 mirror – one of five mirrors that will work together to observe space – will have a diameter of 39 meters and weigh 200 tons, according to the scientists.
A white lattice structure in the center of the dome will hold the M1 mirror, allowing it to move smoothly during observations and compensate for different gravitational loads, wind conditions, vibrations, or temperature changes, experts say.
You can watch the construction of the world's largest telescope live 24/7 thanks to interactive webcam recordings. The Observatory also shared a slow-motion video of the warm glow of the Sun rising over the optical telescope.
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