Extremely Large Telescope: The steel frame of the giant telescope is finished
The world's largest telescope by far is being built in the Chilean desert. New aerial photos show how the instrument continues to take shape.
The closing dome of the ELT
(Image: ESO/G. Vecchia)
The dome of what will soon be the world's largest telescope is taking shape. More and more elements are ensuring that it begins to close. This is shown by the latest photos of the construction site in Chile, which the European Southern Observatory ESO has now published. It can also be seen that the structure of the giant dome is complete. Video recordings made with a drone illustrate the dimensions of the construction site.
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The ELT is being built on Cerro Armazones in the Chilean Atacama Desert, which is around 3000 meters high. Its summit was removed before construction work began. Workers completed the foundations of the gigantic instrument at the beginning of 2022. Almost 9000 mÂł of concrete was used for this alone. Each individual block of the dome's steel frame weighs 70 tons. The ESO regularly publishes up-to-date images of the construction site. In the fall of 2023, for example, the European Southern Observatory showed impressive time-lapse images.
Videos by heise
The world's largest telescope by far is due to begin its scientific work in 2028 and provide answers to fundamental questions in astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology. The project reached the halfway point of construction in the summer of 2023 and work has been progressing steadily ever since. The first of over 900 segments of the giant primary mirror were shipped to Chile a year ago. It will have a diameter of 39 meters.
Die Kuppel des Extremely Large Telescopes schlieĂźt sich (12 Bilder)
ESO/G. Vecchia
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(mho)
