- European Extremely Large Telescope
Infobox Telescope
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name = European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT)
caption =
organization = ESO
location = ProbablyChile orRoque de los Muchachos at theCanary Islands
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altitude =
weather =
wavelength = Optical, near infrared
built = Planned completion: 2017
website = http://www.eso.org/public/astronomy/projects/e-elt.html
style = Reflector
diameter = convert|42|m|ft|abbr=on|lk=off
angular_resolution = 0.001 to 0.6arcsecond s depending on target and instruments used
area =
focal_length = 420-840 m (f/10 - f/20)
mounting = Alt/az
dome = SphericalThe European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) is anextremely large telescope design proposed for the next-generationEuropean Southern Observatory optical telescope with a mirror diameter of convert|42|m|ft|abbr=off|lk=off. ESO is focusing on this design after a feasibility study concluded that the proposed convert|100|m|ft|abbr=off|lk=off diameterOverwhelmingly Large Telescope would cost $1.5 billion (£1 billion), and be too complex.Current fabrication technology limits single mirrors to being roughly 8 meters in a single piece. The next-largest telescopes currently in use are the
Gran Telescopio Canarias andSouthern African Large Telescope , which each use hexagonal mirrors fitted together to make a mirror more than 10 meters across. The ELT would need to use a similar design. In addition, ELT would also need to use techniques to work around atmospheric distortion of incoming light, known asadaptive optics .Project E-ELT has the aim of observing the Universe in greater detail than even the
Hubble Space Telescope . A mirror of approximately 42 meters would allow the study of the atmospheres ofextrasolar planet s. The 5-mirror anastigmat design is estimated to cost €800 million and could be completed by2017 . [cite press release |title=ESO Council Gives Green Light to Detailed Study of the European Extremely Large Telescope |url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=21445 |publisher=European Southern Observatory |date=2006-12-11 |accessdate= ]Location
Sites under discussion include
Cerro Macon, Salta , atArgentina ,Roque de los Muchachos Observatory , at theCanary Islands ,South Africa ,Chile ,Morocco ,andAntarctica .ee also
*
Overwhelmingly Large Telescope
*Thirty Meter Telescope
*Giant Magellan Telescope
*Large Binocular Telescope
*Darwin (ESA) References
External links
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6176185.stm Final stage for telescope design]
* [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/11/test_design_elt/ Green light for ELT]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4426535.stm Ground Telescope to Super Size]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5252228.stm "Record mirror for Euro telescope" BBC Online August 7 2006]
* [http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=21445 "ESO Council Gives Green Light to Detailed Study of the European Extremely Large Telescope" Spaceref.com]
* [http://www.eso.org/public/astronomy/projects/e-elt.html ESO European Extremely Large Telescope]
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