The photos taken in June 2023 showcase the detailed structure of ELT under construction atop Cerro Armazones mountain, located in the northern Atacama Desert of Chile. Upon completion, ELT will possess a primary mirror measuring 39 meters wide, making it the largest observing eye of the universe from Earth’s surface, capable of observing the cosmos in both visible and infrared light.
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The groundbreaking astronomical project began construction in 2014 and has made impressive progress. The European Southern Observatory (ESO), the operating unit of ELT, emphasizes the visible changes in the structure from day to day. The steel frame in the new series of photos will be covered, and the structure will be enveloped by its distinctive dome. “ELT is the largest of the next-generation optical and infrared ground-based astronomical telescopes,” said Xavier Barcons, the ESO Director General.
The remaining half of ELT’s construction process is expected to proceed even faster than the first half due to meticulous planning and the effects of the pandemic, which caused the construction site to close for several months. In the past nine years, from the groundbreaking ceremony in 2014 to the completion of the first half of the project, the remaining 50% of ELT is projected to be finished within just 5 years. The astronomical telescope will commence operation in 2028 and provide its first scientific results in the same year.
The finalization of ELT does not only take place in the northern Chilean desert. Companies in Europe are rapidly manufacturing the mirrors and various other components of the astronomical telescope. When completed, ELT’s primary mirror will consist of 5 individual mirrors, including one massive main mirror (M1) made from 798 hexagonal segments. Mirrors 2 and 3 (M2 and M3) are also undergoing polishing. In total, 6 thin petals make up ELT’s flexible mirror number 4, which has been completed and installed in the structural unit. M4 is an impressive specialized astronomical mirror technology, capable of adjusting its shape 1,000 times per second to correct distortions caused by atmospheric turbulence.
Other scientific instruments of ELT, including the control system and the devices for assembling the astronomical telescope, are also in the process of production or development. The necessary supporting infrastructure for ELT has already been transferred to the construction site or is located near Cerro Armazones.
(According to Space)