The system is designed to remain inactive during small "nuisance" earthquakes that are common at Las Campanas Observatory. Engineers designing the Giant Magellan Telescope have solved an immense design challenge never attempted before: Protecting a 22-story rotating observatory and seven of the world’s largest … The Giant Magellan Telescope is designed to have a resolving power ten times greater than the Hubble Space Telescope. More detailed information on the scientific objectives is available here. The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), slated for completion in 2021, will be one of the world’s next giant earth-based telescopes, with ten times the resolving power of the Hubble Space Telescope. The Giant Magellan Telescope is a new 25-meter class ground-based telescope being constructed at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the best locations on Earth to view the … The GMT, to be constructed in … Reviewers reported that the preliminary designs have successfully met the seismic protection requirements that, as Dr. Bigelow said, are "absolutely crucial to assuring that the telescope can do its job for 50 years. That discovery was followed by the realization that the universe was expanding. October 8, 2020 Astronomers from across the globe previewed the Giant Magellan Telescope, which is currently under construction at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, at … This is why the great collecting area of the GMT is so important. Light from the edge of the universe will first reflect off of the seven primary mirrors, then reflect again off of the seven smaller secondary mirrors, and finally, down through the center primary mirror to the advanced CCD (charge coupled device) imaging cameras. The GMT primary mirrors are made at the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab at the University of Arizona in Tucson. In addition to the vast distance—the very closest star to earth is four light-years away—the biggest problem is the glare of the host star which blocks out most of the reflected light of a small distant planet. What is the fate of the universe? All users of this website are reminded that any redistribution or copying of copyrighted material requires permission of the copyright owner. By using our website, you agree to the placement of these cookies. This greatly reduces the amount of grinding required to shape the glass and also reduces weight. South African Large Telescope (SALT) This 30-foot (9.2-meter) telescope represents the largest … The Giant Magellan Telescope will be one member of the next generation of giant ground-based telescopes that promises to revolutionize our view and understanding of the universe. This is accomplished by using a honeycomb mold, whereby the finished glass is mostly hollow. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201216005264/en/. Las Campanas Peak (“Cerro Las Campanas”), where the GMT will be located, has an altitude of over 2,550 meters or approximately 8,500 feet. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201216005264/en/, VOICE INTERCONNECT AND PEERING CONFERENCE OCTOBER 5, 2010, Ecosystem Demo - CommLogik Corporation - Part 3, HP WFO: A New Position for a Brand you Trust, TantaComm has a "Fresh Message" for the Contact Center Marketplace, Changing the User Experience with HD Voice, Phone.com Transforms Small Businesses Using VoIP and the Cloud, eBook: The Power of Emotion in Customer Service, eBook: The Innovator's Guide to the Digital-First Contact Center, Checklist: Power of Emotion. What are dark matter and dark energy that comprise most of our universe? But taking pictures of these so-called “extrasolar” planets, which orbit other stars, is extraordinarily difficult. This will … The mirror is the first of seven 8.4-meter (27-foot) mirrors that the Mirror Lab is making for the Giant Magellan Telescope. The seismic protection system - also known as a seismic isolation system - on the Giant Magellan Telescope is unprecedented in the world of telescopes, in terms of the size and complexity. The location of the GMT also offers a key advantage in terms of seeing through the atmosphere. There, the concentrated light will be measured to determine how far away objects are and what they are made of. The new generation of extremely large telescopes will be built with sophisticated seismic mitigations, including seismic isolation, to balance construction and operational costs over the extended operational service lives of these large facilities.". The system will only engage during extreme earthquakes that will typically occur on a 1-2-year time scale. Momentous discovery—certainly one of the GMT is so important ever built and the will! A segmented mirror telescope that employs seven of today ’ s largest stiff mirrors. 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