The United Kingdom has announced the development of the first observation instrument for the world’s largest ground-based optical telescope, which is currently under construction. This instrument will be used to search for potentially habitable worlds.
The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT)
The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is constructing the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), the largest ground-based optical telescope in the world. Comparable in size to the Roman Colosseum, the ELT is being built in the Atacama Desert in Chile, at an elevation of 3000 meters above sea level. This gigantic telescope is set to revolutionize our understanding of the universe.
First Instrument Ready for Production
The first instrument to be approved for production is the Mid-infrared ELT Imager and Spectrograph (METIS). Recently, METIS passed its final design review and is now ready for manufacturing. This device will utilize mid-infrared imaging to study planet-forming disks that are filled with gas and dust. Since dust particles absorb visible light, mid-infrared imaging is crucial for examining these regions. The data obtained from METIS could significantly enhance our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.
Potential Discoveries with METIS
In addition to studying planet-forming disks, METIS will search for nearby exoplanets, explore the origins of our solar system, and investigate the cores of galaxies where supermassive black holes reside. Interestingly, METIS could also be instrumental in the search for potentially habitable worlds. Some cold planets emit light in the mid-infrared spectrum, making them detectable with this instrument.
Unprecedented Imaging Capabilities
Once completed, the ELT will be a unique telescope of its kind. Using both visible and infrared wavelengths, it is poised to become one of the most ambitious scientific and engineering projects in history. The telescope’s primary mirror will be 39 meters in diameter and will have the ability to collect 100 million times more light than the human eye. The ELT will feature a total of five mirrors, three of which will be curved to capture wide-angle, high-resolution images of the sky.
ELT’s Scientific Goals
With its advanced instruments, the ELT aims to address fundamental questions about our universe. It will investigate the existence of Earth-like planets around other stars, look for signs of life beyond our solar system, and study the formation and evolution of the earliest galaxies. Weighing in at 3000 tons, this colossal telescope is expected to commence scientific operations in 2028.
The construction and upcoming deployment of the ELT and its first observation instrument, METIS, mark significant milestones in our quest to explore the cosmos and understand our place within it.
