Construction of a revolutionary telescope in the Atacama Desert with a 39-meter mirror is 50% complete; see photos

The ELT (Extremely Large Telescope) construction of the ESO (European Southern Observatory) has reached 50%.

The equipment is being built on top of Cerro Armazones — a mountain located in the Atacama Desert in Chile.

The telescope will have a 39-meter mirror and will be the largest in the world for visible light and for infrared vision. Components, like other mirrors and lasers, are being produced by companies in Europe and are due to be delivered to ESO for evaluation and testing.

“Achieving 50% completion is no small feat, given the challenges inherent in large and complex projects, and has only been possible thanks to the commitment of everyone at ESO, the continued support of ESO Member States and the involvement of our industry partners. and instrument consortia,” said ESO Director General Xavier Barcons, referring to the challenges faced in constructing the project.

The works have already lasted nine years and even required a flattening of the top of the mountain to accommodate the super-telescope. The Covid-19 pandemic and the meticulous construction of the equipment’s mirrors were some of the factors that caused the works to drag on.

A good part of the support infrastructure is already ready and in operation, such as the solar plant that will supply renewable energy for the operation of the equipment and the technical building — where the ELT mirrors will be stored and coated.

The ESO forecast is that the telescope will be ready to start its scientific observations in 2028. The idea is to gather evidence to try to answer questions relevant to astronomy that still remain without an exact answer, such as:

• Are we alone in the Universe?
• Are the laws of physics universal?
• How did the first stars and galaxies form?

ESO is a supranational cooperation organization for research investment in the field of astrology, with Chile as its host country. The body has members such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom — in addition to having Australia as a strategic partner.