European Extremely Large Telescope

E62234

The European Extremely Large Telescope is a next-generation ground-based optical and infrared observatory being built by the European Southern Observatory to become the world’s largest and most powerful visible-light telescope.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf astronomical observatory
ground-based observatory
infrared telescope
optical telescope
alsoKnownAs ELT
altitude approximately 3046 meters above sea level
apertureClass extremely large telescope
comparison larger than any existing optical-infrared telescope at time of construction
constructionStart 2014
constructionStatus under construction
continent South America
country Chile
designedBy European Southern Observatory
designPhaseStart early 2000s
expectedFirstLight late 2020s
fundingBody ESO member states
hasFeature adaptive optics
advanced instrumentation suite
deformable mirrors
laser guide star system
segmented primary mirror
hostOrganization European Southern Observatory
location Antofagasta Region
Atacama Desert
Cerro Armazones
mountType alt-azimuth mount
operator European Southern Observatory
partOf European Southern Observatory Paranal–Armazones complex
primaryMirrorArea approximately 978 square meters
primaryMirrorDiameter 39 meters
approximately 39.3 meters
primaryMirrorSegments 798
scienceGoals black hole studies
cosmology
dark energy research
dark matter research
galaxy formation and evolution
planet formation studies
stellar astrophysics
study of exoplanets
study of first stars and galaxies
scientificImpact intended to be the world’s largest optical-infrared telescope
siteDecisionYear 2010
telescopeType Ritchey–Chrétien telescope
reflecting telescope
wavelengthRange mid-infrared
near-infrared
visible light

Referenced by (4)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Giant Magellan Telescope
comparableProjects
Thirty Meter Telescope ("Extremely Large Telescope")
comparedWith
European Southern Observatory ("Extremely Large Telescope")
develops
ESO Council ("ESO Extremely Large Telescope programme")
governs

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