Extremely Large Telescope: Southern decides new super spies

Science and techno world topic: Space

The European Southern Observatory has given the green light for the construction of Extremely Large Telescope. Already this year, the work begins in Chile. With its gigantic 40-meter mirror, the observatory will also find planets that harbor life could be.

Garching - The European Southern Observatory (ESO) decided to build the largest optical telescope in the world. Ten member states agreed at a meeting of the ESO Council in Garching near Munich for around one billion euro project, such as ESO spokesman Lars Lindberg Christensen said on Tuesday. Four Member States would still give the green light, which is true but to be safe.

European Extremely Large Telescope (Photo): 

The construction is scheduled to begin later this year

"This is a milestone for the project," said Lindberg Christensen. From the beginning of the next decade is the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) spot among other Earth-like planets where life could emerge.

Within a year, construction will begin in Chile. Until then, even the majority of the funding will be secured. First, only the money on preparations for future location of the telescope enabled - have granted to the 14 member countries meet at least 90 percent of the roughly. 1.1 billion euro in completion costs. As important for the financing of Brazil is also the final accession to the ESO.

Construction is expected to begin later this year

The E-ELT would be with a main mirror diameter of 40 meters, by far the largest optical telescope in the world. It is on the mountain Cerro Armazones in the northern Chilean region of Antofagasta are good 2,800 meters above sea level. It will work in both the visible and infrared range.  The mirrors of its four main telescopes have only a diameter of 8.20 meters each.

The Atacama Desert is due to the drought and isolation particularly well suited for stargazing. For the E-ELT has now built the first thing a road on the 3060 meter high mountain. The first construction work is expected to begin later this year.