The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) under Construction in Chile | ESO
The cranes of the ELT
The ELT's skeleton
The image shows the early constructions stages of the ELT's dome and main structure. Despite their massive size, both structures are able to rate and tilt the mirrors to the targetted observation with utmost precision. With only the frames visible, we are looking here at the ELT's internal skeleton.
Looking into the dome of the ELT
As work on the dome progresses, the telescope structure is taking shape as well; it will eventually hold five mirrors, including the enormous 39-metre primary mirror. This large structure has to be lightweight, because it has to be able to move, but at the same time it must be sturdy enough to hold the mirrors precisely in place to guarantee high-quality images.
This is the cell that will support the primary mirror of ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). This mirror is composed of 798 hexagonal segments. These segments are placed on the structure seen on this picture, which will also hold sensors and actuators that will constantly measure and adjust the position of the segments. With a diameter of over 39 meters, this will be the largest optical mirror on Earth.
Supporting the ELT's main mirror
This giant metal skeleton frame, currently under construction on Cerro Armazones in Chile’s Atacama Desert, will support the primary mirror of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). It will be the largest segmented mirror ever built for a telescope, with a diameter of 39 metres. The mirror will consist of 798 hexagonal mirror segments that work together as one giant mirror. For that, the supporting cell structure has to be sturdy, but light enough to turn around its axis. The mirror cell has openings and walkable areas underneath its mirror supports.
"Biggest eye on the sky"—the ELT
In this aerial photo, the telescope looks like an eye, pointing at the sky. The image shows the ELT still in its construction phase. Through the open dome we see the honey-comb-like structure of the ELT's main mirror. With an astonoishing size of 39 meters in diameter, this will be the largest telescope mirror in the world.
Cerro Armazones, in Chile's Atacama Desert is home to the impressive Extremely Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory (ESO's ELT). This image shows the giant rising, with three cranes building its colossal dome.
Almost as tall as London's Big Ben clock tower, larger than Rome's Colosseum . . . the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is truly a massive building. The construction materials used for the ELT include: 10,000 tonnes of steel, 30 million bolts or 500 km of cables. Even compared to other large telescopes, the ELT is a one-of-a-kind.
The ELT can be seen here under construction, including its dome, central structure and base of the M1 mirror. The ELT stands at Cerro Armazones in Chile's Atacama Desert and will be one of the main flagships of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) for the next two decades. Thanks to on-site webcams, drone footage, and the contribution from professional and amateur photographers, ESO is able to share the development of the ELT with the world step-by-step.
These images show the early constructions stages of the ELT's dome and main structure. Despite their massive size, these structures are able to rate and tilt the mirrors to the targeted observation with great precision.
Altitude: 3046 meters
Planned year of technical first light: 2027
Credit: ESO/G. Vecchia/J. Porte
Image Date: Dec. 4, 2024
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