Back المقراب فائق الكبر الأوروبي Arabic यूरोपियन एक्सट्रीमली लार्ज टेलिस्कोप Bihari দি এক্সট্রিমলি লার্জ টেলিস্কোপ Bengali/Bangla Ekstremno veliki teleskop BS European Extremely Large Telescope Catalan تەلیسکۆپی ھەرە مەزنی ئەورووپی CKB Extrémně velký dalekohled Czech European Extremely Large Telescope Danish Extremely Large Telescope German Ege Granda Teleskopo Esperanto
 Artist's impression of the ELT | |
| Alternative names | ELT |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Cerro Armazones, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile |
| Coordinates | 24°35′21″S 70°11′30″W / 24.5893°S 70.1916°W |
| Organization | European Southern Observatory (ESO) agency |
| Altitude | 3,046 m (9,993 ft) |
| Wavelength | optical and near-infrared |
| Built | 2017– |
| First light | 2029 |
| Diameter | 39 metres (130 feet) |
| Secondary diameter | 4.2 metres (14 feet) |
| Tertiary diameter | 3.8 metres (12 feet) |
| Angular resolution | 0.005 arcsecond  |
| Collecting area | 978 m2 (10,530 sq ft) |
| Focal length | 684.022 m (2,244 ft 2.0 in) |
| Mounting | Elevation over azimuth |
| Enclosure | 86 metres diameter, 74 metres height |
| Website | elt |
  Location of Extremely Large Telescope | |
 Related media on Commons | |
The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is an astronomical observatory under construction.[1] When completed, it will be the world's largest optical and near-infrared extremely large telescope. Part of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) agency, it is located on top of Cerro Armazones in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
The design consists of a reflecting telescope with a 39-metre-diameter (130-foot) segmented primary mirror and a 4.2 m (14 ft) diameter secondary mirror. The telescope is equipped with adaptive optics, six laser guide star units, and various large-scale scientific instruments.[2][3] The observatory's design will gather 100 million times more light than the human eye, equivalent to about 10 times more light than the largest optical telescopes in existence as of 2023, with the ability to correct for atmospheric distortion. It has around 250 times the light-gathering area of the Hubble Space Telescope and, according to the ELT's specifications, will provide images 15 times sharper than those from Hubble.[4]
The project was originally called the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), but the name was shortened in 2017.[5] The ELT is intended to advance astrophysical knowledge by enabling detailed studies of planets around other stars, the first galaxies in the Universe, supermassive black holes, the nature of the Universe's dark sector, and to detect water and organic molecules in protoplanetary disks around other stars.[6] As planned in 2011, the facility was expected to take 11 years to construct, from 2014 to 2025.[7]
On 11 June 2012, the ESO Council approved the ELT programme's plans to begin civil works at the telescope site, with the construction of the telescope itself pending final agreement with governments of some member states.[8] Construction work on the ELT site started in June 2014.[9] By December 2014, ESO had secured over 90% of the total funding and authorized construction of the telescope to start, estimated to cost around one billion euros for the first construction phase.[10] The first stone of the telescope was ceremonially laid on 26 May 2017, initiating the construction of the dome's main structure and telescope.[11][12] The telescope passed the halfway point in its development and construction in July 2023, with the expected completion and first light set for March 2029.[13][3][14]
- ^ Overbye, Dennis (8 March 2024). "Good News and Bad News for Astronomers' Biggest Dream – The National Science Foundation takes a step (just one) toward an "extremely large telescope."". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
govertwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "ESO's Extremely Large Telescope is now half completed". European Southern Observatory. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ "Frequently asked questions about the ELT, question 15". European Southern Observatory. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
- ^ information@eso.org. "Renaming the E-ELT – Statement from ESO's Director General". www.eso.org. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
E-ELT Alonewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "The E-ELT construction proposal" (PDF). European Southern Observatory. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Approvalwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
beginningwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
spaceref2014was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Construction begins on world's largest telescope in Chilean desert". Reuters. 26 May 2017.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
eso1419-groundbreakingwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "ELT Timeline". Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ information@eso.org. "Telescope first light for ESO's Extremely Large Telescope now planned for March 2029". www.eso.org. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
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