Connect with us

Tech

Construction of world’s largest telescope begins in Chile

Published

on

Construction of world's largest telescope begins in Chile

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on Friday inaugurated the construction of the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), which will be the world’s largest optical telescope upon its completion.

Located on a 3,000 metre-high mountain in the middle of the Atacama desert, E-ELT is expected to start operations as an integral part of the Paranal Observatory in 2024.

The telescope is said to be five times larger than many of its existing counterparts.

Read also: Australian hospitals hit by dangerous WannaCry ransomeware

With its enormous size, the E-ELT could change our perspective of the universe, according to its backers, who are optimistic about the performance of the telescope’s primary mirror that can measure some 39 metres across.

The E-ELT is expected to help astronomers find exoplanets orbiting other stars while also refining their discoveries with its ability to locate smaller planets.

The telescope is also capable of imaging larger planets and characterising their atmosphere, which would help astronomers better understand the possibility of life there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now