The biggest eye on the sky
Based in the Chilean Atacama Desert, the ELT will be the largest and most impressive telescope ever constructed by humans
Creating the world’s largest telescope is no mean feat – it is one that requires a viable site as well as primary and secondary mirrors big enough to see further into space than we’ve ever seen from an Earthly lens. That’s why the ELT has been a global initiative, with a huge roster of countries providing materials, research and consultation on its design and construction.
Since the ELT will form part of the European Southern Observatory network, a site in Chile was chosen for the new super telescope. The ESO already has a considerable presence in the South American nation, so the chosen location of Cerro Armazones makes perfect sense – especially when you consider it’s ideal nature for stargazing – it has 89 per cent cloudless nights a year.
The mirrors used will be some of the largest ever constructed for a terrestrial telescope, with a 39.3-metre (129-foot) primary mirror and the secondary one still an impressive 4.2 metres (13.8 feet) in diameter. The combination will gather 13-times more light than any other optical telescope on Earth, and will offer the ability to adjust for atmospheric distortions. Better yet, it will provide the opportunity to capture images 16-times sharper than the Hubble Space Telescope.
Arc de Triomphe,
Paris
One of the most famous monuments in Paris, the Arc de Triomphe stands at 50 metres (164 feet) tall – shorter than
the ELT.
The London Eye
At 135 metres (443 feet), the Eye towers over the Extremely Large Telescope by a massive 61 metres
(200 feet).
ELT, Chile
The largest telescope ever constructed, the ELT exterior dome will reach 74 metres (243 feet). The dome has a diameter of about 86 metres
(282 feet).
Statue of Liberty, New York
Lady Liberty measures 93 metres (305 feet) from the ground to her torch – roughly the same as a
22-storey building.
Very Large Telescope,
Chile
The Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory is dwarfed by the ELT, barely scraping 30 metres (98 feet).
Great Pyramid of Giza
The ELT is dwarfed by the Great Pyramid, standing at an impressive 137 metres (450 feet).
The Colosseum,
Rome
The Colosseum remains fearsome, but at 48 metres (157.5 feet) it’s just over half the height of
the ELT.