Shielding the Extremely Large Telescope from the Atacama Desert | ELT Updates

We're building our Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) in the Atacama Desert, which boasts some of the darkest skies on Earth but is at the same time a very harsh environment.

That's why we're currently covering the ELT steel dome with special cladding, which includes insulating layers and sheets of aluminium. This will protect the ELT and its delicate optics from the external environment.

Credits: ESO.

Directed by: Angelos Tsaousis.
Editing: Angelos Tsaousis.
Web and technical support: Gurvan Bazin and Raquel Yumi Shida.
Written by: Bárbara Ferreira.
Footage and photos: ESO, Angelos Tsaousis, Martin Wallner.
Music: Jon Kennedy – Boom Clack (Martin Brew Remix).

#ELT #BiggestEyeOnTheSky

[cabanford]

Every now and again, humanity does something positive. ❤
Wishing we were more focused on such (and less on our feeble conspiracies, etc.)

[FrothGiant]

👍WOOOHOOOO wow this telescope is going to be awesome😊

[andycordy]

The pace of these wonderful shorts is a bit too fast. Trying to take in the magnificent images and read the titles is quite challenging for those of us unused to such sights..

[mariadaluzmoutinho]

O deserto ..vai ter uma obra incrível e duradoura para o acompanhar!! O deserto, o gigantesco telescópio e o universo ...um trio conectado e fascinante! Oh, que maravilha engenhosa nasceu e está a crescer...

[blleman]

This building is so big it'll have it's own weather !

[MM-tetz]

First light is scheduled in 2028, looking forward to seeing some discoveries, photo and some amazing new milestones with this fine project.

[ElBantosClips]

holy shit... that is absolutely massive... Is wikipedia true in saying that the secondary element is 4 meters? As in, its 2nd mirror is larger than most telescopes around the world? lol