#construction #telescope #space #astronomy #planets #ELT #Europe #Chile #stars

The European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is being built in Chile, and when completed, it will be the world’s largest optical telescope (about five times larger than current ones). The main mirror of the telescope will measure 39 meters across and will be located on a 3,000-meter-high mountain in the Atacama Desert. It will begin operations in 2024. The construction costs are estimated at $1.12 billion.

The telescope will have the ability to find smaller planets and image larger ones, going as far as characterizing their atmospheres. This is being considered one of the greatest examples of the possibilities of science, and will help in discoveries of planets orbiting other stars, which in turn might be exo-planets.

Atacama Desert was chosen because of its dry atmosphere that provides perfect observing conditions. By the 2020s, the region will have almost 20 percent of the World’s astronomical infrastructure.

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A telescope with better range and clearer observation. A great chance for humanity to know more about space & universe, spot some exoplanets, and some aliens.