Giant telescopes under erection; Universe to reveal more

Universe, be ready to reveal closely held secrets!!!!  

Three giant telescopes are getting ready and scientists are determined to unlock  more secretes of universe by 2025. Countries are coming together for design, funding, and researches by installing  giant telescopes.  

Giant Telescope – I: European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) 

The  E-ELT with light collecting area of 39 meters wide is under construction atop Cerro Armazones in Chile's Atacama Desert. The at a total project cost of $ 1.34 Billion was approved in June 2012. 798 individual mirror segments together will make up the huge main mirror. With superior light collecting area, this is the most powerful of the three giant telescope plans under process. The project will provide an opening to the deep universe. It will become the telescope having largest aperture. 

The funding arrangement is finalized and the governing council is  in the process of awarding contracts for construction. Tremendous progress has been achieved in civil works at the site and coming years will see rapid progress. The summit of Cerro Armazone is being leveled and wide road to the location is being constructed.  The project  has two phases. Phase –I accounts for 90% of total project cost that will ensure smooth running of the project. Phase-II will be for completing development of non-essential elements. It is planned to be commissioned in 2024.

Giant Telescope – II: Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)

The Thirty Meter Telescope is planned below the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. This is considered as one of the best astronomy sites as the location provides clear atmosphere and nights. The telescope will be placed at a height of around 4050 meters, half that of Mount Everest. 

The project is expected to reveal mysteries, including that relating to formation, of the universe.  On commission in 2022, the project will become the largest ground ground-based observatory operating in optical and mid-infrared wavelengths. This is global project with involvement of United States, Canada, India, China and Japan. The TMT will have an array of  492 individual hexagonal segments. Each segment is of 1.44 m in size making up a single light collecting area of 30 m diameter.

Japan will be providing the glasses and India will ensure polishing of the glasses. India will also be creating control systems and software to ensure alignment of mirrors and collection of data. 

Giant Telescope – III: Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT)

The Giant Magellan Telescope is  being installed  atop Las Campanas . This peak is also in Chili. It will have a primary mirror collecting area of 22 metres. It is projected to be in operation in 2021 and is being installed by GMT consortium.