The ELT (Extremely Large Telescope) is currently the largest optical telescope on Earth. Its main mirror has an impressive diameter of 39 meters, which is comparable to the size of two tennis courts.
Unlike other optical telescopes that have a diameter of around 9-11 meters, the ELT utilizes multiple mirror segments to create one enormous mirror. The entire ELT mirror consists of 931 hexagonal segments.
By using adaptive optics, the ELT will be able to eliminate disturbances caused by Earth’s atmosphere. This significantly enhances the observational capabilities of this powerful machine. The ELT will have 798 permanent segments, with the remaining segments serving as spares.
Transporting the mirror segments to the installation site has been a challenging task. However, the hexagonal segments of the ELT mirror are easier to transport, and their potential loss during travel will not be as costly as damaging a monolithic mirror.
Currently, the production of the mirror segments is being carried out by SCHOTT in Germany in collaboration with Safran Reosc in France. The ELT telescope segments are manufactured using technology that allows for maximum deviations from a perfectly smooth surface of up to 10 nm, which is less than one thousandth the thickness of a human hair.
The first batch of 18 ELT mirror segments has just embarked on a journey from France to Chile, where they will be installed. The production of the remaining segments is expected to take approximately 3.5 years. After its projected completion in 2028, the ELT telescope will have immense significance for astronomy, enabling observations with exceptionally high resolution in the near-infrared.
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