The dome surrounding the world’s largest telescope is taking shape, with siding and supports to protect the primary mirror being installed.
of European Southern Observatory The (ESO) Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is currently under construction on Cerro Almazones mountain in Chile’s Atacama Desert, and is due to make its first observations by 2028.
A recent progress photo of the construction site taken in June 2024 shows cladding being installed on the exterior. ELT DomeThis layer of material acts as an insulating barrier, provides weather resistance and helps protect the telescope from the harsh environment of the Chilean desert.
Part of the dome will have a large sliding door that will be closed during the day and opened at night to allow the telescope to scan the sky, searching for Earth-like planets. Exoplanets Searching for signs of life outside ourselves Solar System Its missions include exploring the early universe to study the first galaxies that formed after the Big Bang.
The assembly of the beam structure for the sliding door has begun. telescope Provides protection from the hot daytime temperatures and dusty desert environment.
Related: The heart of the Milky Way shines at the construction site of the world’s largest telescope
Construction photos from June also show progress on the support structure in the center of the dome, which will hold the ELT’s 128-foot (39-meter)-wide primary mirror (M1), which weighs a whopping 200 tons. The mirror rests on a white lattice structure that allows M1 to move smoothly during observations and compensate for changing gravitational loads, wind conditions, vibrations, and temperature changes.
“Look at the cranes and vehicles at the bottom – it shows how huge the ELT is!” an ESO official said. statement Publish the updated image.
The primary mirror is made up of 798 hexagonal segments. Largest segment mirror It is the largest ever built for a telescope. The ELT has a total of five mirrors, each with a different shape, size and role, but which work together to observe the universe.
Secondary mirror M2 is suspended above M1 and reflects the light it collects to tertiary mirror M3. The central hole in the white lattice structure houses the central tower, which houses mirrors M3, M4 and M5.
