Commencement of the world's largest telescope project in Chile

On May 26, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet symbolized the first stone, starting the huge European Telescope project (E-ELT) at the summit of Armazones, in the north of the country.

Speaking after the groundbreaking ceremony, President Bachelet affirmed: 'This work is not just a telescope, but a realistic demonstration of the potential of science and knowledge.'

E-ELT is the world's largest near-infrared and optical telescope.

Set at an elevation of 3,046 meters above sea level, the project is part of the European Southern Observatory (ESO - the European Union's space research agency in Chile), scheduled for completion in 2024.

The Ace Group of Italy will undertake the construction of the main structure and the top (where the main lenses are located) of this $ 1.5 billion invested project.

With a giant primary mirror with a diameter of up to 39 meters, E-ELT will be the world's largest near-infrared and optical telescope.

E-ELT is capable of capturing light rays 15 times larger than the largest optical telescopes in the world today, and is expected to help solve scientific challenges such as exploring similar exoplanets. Earth, observing stars in the early period and analyzing the nature of dark matter and energy.

Weighing in at around 3,000 tons, E-ELT will lead the generation of super-sized telescopes located in northern Chile, where unique climatic conditions in the world are favorable for astronomical observations.