Europe’s ‘Extremely Large Telescope’ will give us a clear look into the universe

Two years after its approval, the European Southern Observatory’s Extremely Large Telescope has been given the go-ahead for construction. The observatory is an astronomy organization supported by over 15 countries, including the UK, Spain, Germany, and Italy.

The telescope dome, measuring 74 meters high and 86 diameters wide, is larger than any other existing telescope. The goal is to use it to obtain new and extremely detailed glimpses of the universe, including imagery of exoplanets and exploring properties of the oldest stars and galaxies.

Although the project has been approved, it is possible that the two-phase construction project may be delayed over funding issues. Funding for the $1.339 billion project largely depends on whether Brazil, which can fund a good portion of the project, will join the ESO as a full member.

The ESO’s goal is to have a fully operational telescope by 2024, with steady work until 2017. At this point, if additional funding has not been secured, the ESO will shift some of its plans into the second phase and will postpone the date of completion for the giant telescope to 2026.

Groundwork has already started in the Chilean Atacama Desert, the microscope’s future home.

According to the European Southern Observatory, Extremely Large Telescopes are considered worldwide as one of the highest priorities in ground-based astronomy. They will vastly advance astrophysical knowledge, allowing detailed studies of subjects including planets around other stars, the first objects in the Universe, super-massive black holes, and the nature and distribution of the dark matter and dark energy which dominate the Universe.

 

 

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