1. The making of Earth's largest optical telescope.
- Author
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Ogasa, Nikk
- Subjects
- *
OPTICAL telescopes , *OPTICAL instruments , *HABITABLE planets , *NEAR infrared radiation , *HONEYCOMB structures , *MIRRORS - Abstract
The article discusses the construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope, which will be Earth's most powerful optical instrument. The telescope will consist of seven primary mirrors, each 8.5 meters wide, arranged in a flower-like formation. It will be located in Chile's Atacama Desert and will capture optical and near-infrared light, potentially allowing for the discovery of habitable planets and signs of alien life. The mirrors are made by melting borosilicate glass and shaping it into a honeycomb structure, which is then polished and coated with aluminum. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2023