European Extremely Large Telescope given go-ahead

[muriel_volestrangler]

The European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) will have a primary mirror some 40m in diameter, and will be built on top of a mountain in Chile.
...
They have not yet, however, put all of the 1bn euros (£0.8bn) of financing in place.

That may be possible by December, at the organisation's next council meeting.

By then, Brazil should also have become the 15th full member of Eso, further spreading the E-ELT's cost and making it more affordable for all nations.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18396853

Good to see a new nation joining the consortium - Brazil is big enough that it could have a major scientific presence in the future.

[longship]

1. At 40m, it will be a segmented mirror.

Easier to manufacture and figure the segments. Plus 40m is beyond the limit where a single mirror can keep its curvature. But that's one freaking huge instrument, and it has to move very accurately!

I went to Mt. Palomar a few years ago. Standing under the 200" Hale telescope was one of the most awe inspiring experiences of my life. It is HUGE. And it is balanced so precisely and the mount has so little friction that it is said that it can be moved with a push of a couple hands.

These things are amazing things.

[Posteritatis]

2. It's easier to fine-tune focus and the like with the segments too, no?

Correcting for atmospheric wobbles and the like, I mean.

40m's a lot of mirror in any case. The ESO was toying with the idea of an even bigger one that they decided they might as well call "the Overwhelmingly Large Telescope."

[longship]

5. Yup, the OWL telescope, 100 freaking meters!

[EvolveOrConvolve]

3. I love the name

But "Giant Motherfucking Telescope" would have been better.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Its so Monty Python