Extremely large telescope
An extremely large telescope (ELT) is an astronomical observatory featuring a telescope with an aperture of more than 20 m diameter,[1] when discussing reflecting telescopes of optical wavelengths including ultraviolet (UV), visible, and near infrared wavelengths. Among many planned capabilities, ELTs are planned to increase the chance of finding Earth-like planets around other stars.[2] Telescopes for other wavelengths can be much bigger physically, such as the 100 metres (110 yards) aperture on the Green Bank Telescope for radio wavelengths.
These telescopes have a number of features in common, in particular the use of a segmented primary mirror (similar to the existing Keck telescopes), and the use of high-order adaptive optics systems.[3][4] See also the List of largest optical reflecting telescopes for other large finished telescopes.
Although ELT designs are large, they can have smaller apertures than the aperture synthesis on many large optical interferometers. However, they may collect much more light, along with other advantages.
ELTs
The top three ELTs that are funded with two smaller but completed large telescopes for comparison (background yellow). In the early 2000s, all three targeted completion in 2018, although this slipped to 2022 for E-ELT[5] and TMT.[6]
| Image | Name | Aperture (m) | Area (m²) | Primary mirror | Altitude (m) | First light |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) | 39.3 | 978[7] | 798 × 1.45 m hexagonal (f/1) |
3060[5] | 2022[5] | Site chosen: Cerro Armazones Obs., Chile |
 |
Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) | 30 | 655[3] | 492 × 1.45 hexagonal (f/1) |
4050 | 2022[6] | Site chosen: Mauna Kea Obs., Hawaii |
 |
Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) | 24.5 | 368[4] | 7 × 8.4 m circular (f/0.71) |
2516 | 2020[8] | Site chosen: Las Campanas Obs., Chile; 3 mirrors cast (3/7 M1), 1 polished |
 |
Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) | 22.8* | 111 | 2 × 8.4 m circular |
3221 | 2008[9] | Largest Binocular; largest non-segmented mirrors; Located on Mount Graham in Arizona |
 |
Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) | 10.4 | 74 | 36 × 1.9 m hexagonal |
2275 | 2008[10] | Largest single mirror. Located on Roque de los Muchachos Obs. in the Canary Islands |
*The LBT baseline is obtained via aperture synthesis.
The Very Large Telescope, of the European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, is also of note, with 4 × 8.2 m, 4 × 1.8, and 1 × 2.61, all on separate mounts but in one building for interferometry. See also Keck Observatory
Budget
Possible budget figures, which are estimates and can vary over time.
| Name | Cost (est USD) |
Alternate |
|---|---|---|
| European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) | $1353 million | €1055 million (Euros) |
| Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) | $1200 million | |
| Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) | $700 million | |
| Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) | $120 million | |
| Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) | $167 million | €130 million (Euros) |
Projects
There were several telescopes in various stages in the 1990s and early 2000s, and some developed into construction projects.
- Funded construction
- Projects
Some of these projects are completed, or merged into ongoing ELTs.
- GSMT: Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope, merged into TMT
- OWL: Overwhelmingly Large Telescope;passed over in favor of E-ELT
- VLOT: Very Large Optical Telescope, merged into TMT
- LAT: Large Atacama Telescope
- EURO50: European 50-metre Telescope;merged into the E-ELT.
- LPT: Large Petal Telescope
- JELT: Japanese ELT Project. Japan joined the TMT project in 2008.
- CELT: California Extremely Large Telescope; CELT became/merged into TMT project.
- Swedish Extremely Large Telescope Project.[11]
- MAXAT[11]
See also
- List of largest optical reflecting telescopes
- Overwhelmingly Large Telescope
- Gran Telescopio Canarias
References
- ↑ See title of http://www.astro-opticon.org/fp5/skelcase.html and section 1 of http://www.aao.gov.au/instrum/ELT/ELTroadmap040917.pdf
- ↑ Jha, Alok (5 August 2006). "Extremely Large Telescope could reveal secrets of life, the universe and everything". The Guardian.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Thirty Meter Telescope Construction Proposal. TMT Observatory Corporation. 2007-09-12. p. 29. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Chapter 6: Optics". GMT Conceptual Design Report. GMT Consortium. pp. 6–3. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Govert Schilling - Europe Downscales Monster Telescope to Save Money ( 14 June 2011) - Science Insider
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Thirty Meter Telescope timeline page, TMT Observatory Project, retrieved 2010-10-12
- ↑ http://www.eso.org/public/astronomy/teles-instr/e-elt_num.html
- ↑ Joe Palca (2012-01-14), "Mega Mirror To Power Massive New Telescope", All Things Considered, NPR, retrieved 2012-03-23
- ↑ "Large Binocular Telescope Achieves First Binocular Light" (Press release). Large Binocular Telescope Corporation. 2008-02-28.
- ↑ "Giant Canary Islands telescope captures first light". CBCnews. CBC. 16 July 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 ELT
External links
- Australian National Workshop on Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs)
- The OPTICON ELT Working Group a Europe-wide research project
- The science case for Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) from the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh