The “Extra Large Telescope” is currently being built in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The name “extra large telescope” is not a coincidence: when it is completed in around three years, it will be the largest optical telescope in the world and will provide images of the universe at unprecedented depths.
Austrian researchers from the JKU, the universities of Vienna and Innsbruck, and the “Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics” (RICAM) in Linz are playing a leading role in the development of two key instruments.
The “Multi-AO Imaging Camera for Deep Observations”, or “Micado” for short, is a high-resolution camera: The 20-ton, six-meter-high device can reveal the structures and formation of distant galaxies in detail. Astronomers can use it to study individual stars and star systems in nearby galaxies as well as planets outside our solar system.
The “Mid-infrared ELT Imager and Spectrograph” (METIS) is designed for the mid-infrared range – making it ideal for examining cold or dust-covered objects that emit light primarily in this frequency range.
“Earth-based astronomical observations are disturbed by turbulence in the Earth’s atmosphere,” explains Ronny Ramlau, professor at the Institute of Industrial Mathematics at JKU and scientific director at RICAM. The Linz team is providing algorithms for the project that can be used to correct this turbulence. “This is an essential contribution to being able to take sharp images,” says Ramlau.
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The European Extremely Large Telescope: A New Era in Astronomy
The Atacama Desert in Chile is currently home to one of the most ambitious astronomical projects in history: the construction of the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). This massive telescope, set to be completed in the next three years, will be the largest optical telescope in the world, providing unprecedented insights into the universe.
Austrian Researchers Take the Lead
A team of Austrian researchers from the Johannes Kepler University (JKU), the universities of Vienna and Innsbruck, and the “Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics” (RICAM) in Linz are playing a crucial role in the development of two key instruments for the ELT. These instruments, known as “Micado” and “METIS,” will enable astronomers to study the universe in unparalleled detail.
Micado: A High-Resolution Camera
Micado, or the “Multi-AO Imaging Camera for Deep Observations,” is a 20-ton, six-meter-high device that will allow astronomers to study the structures and formation of distant galaxies in detail. This high-resolution camera will enable researchers to examine individual stars and star systems in nearby galaxies, as well as planets outside our solar system.
METIS: Examining Cold and Dust-Covered Objects
The “Mid-infrared ELT Imager and Spectrograph” (METIS) is designed to study objects in the mid-infrared range, making it ideal for examining cold or dust-covered objects that emit light primarily in this frequency range. This instrument will provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of stars and planets.
Correcting Atmospheric Turbulence
One of the significant challenges in astronomy is correcting for atmospheric turbulence, which can distort and blur images taken from Earth-based telescopes. The Linz team is providing algorithms that will help correct this turbulence, allowing for sharper images and more accurate data.
A New Era in Astronomy
The European Extremely Large Telescope will be a game-changer in the field of astronomy, providing unprecedented insights into the universe. With its massive size and advanced instruments, the ELT will enable researchers to study the universe in unparalleled detail, shedding light on some of the most fundamental questions about the nature of the universe.
The European Extremely Large Telescope: A Successor to the Very Large Telescope
The European Extremely Large Telescope is not the first major astronomical project in Europe. The Very Large Telescope (VLT), operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) on Cerro Paranal in Chile, has been a cornerstone of European astronomy since 1998 [[2]]. The VLT is one of the world’s most advanced optical telescopes, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter and four movable 1.8m diameter auxiliary telescopes [[3]]. The ELT will build upon the successes of the VLT, pushing the boundaries of astronomical research even further.
Conclusion
The European Extremely Large Telescope is an exciting development in the field of astronomy, promising to provide unprecedented insights into the universe. With its massive size and advanced instruments, the ELT will enable researchers to study the universe in unparalleled detail, shedding light on some of the most fundamental questions about the nature of the universe. As construction continues, astronomers around the world eagerly await the completion of this massive telescope, marking the beginning of a new era in astronomy.
References:
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VeryLargeTelescope”>[2]
Thirty Meter Telescope
The Extremely Large Telescope: A Giant in the Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert in Chile is currently home to a massive construction project: the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). This gigantic telescope will be the largest optical telescope in the world when completed in three years, providing astronomers with unprecedented images of the universe.
Italian Astro physics in the Lead
Italian researchers are playing a leading role in the development of the ELT, with a massive structure that weighs around 3400 tons and has a base with a diameter of approximately 50 meters [1[1]. The ELT’s primary mirror will have a diameter of 39 meters, making it the largest of its kind in the world [2[2].
Austrian Contributions to the ELT
Austrian researchers from the JKU, the universities of Vienna and Innsbruck, and the “Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics” (RICAM) in Linz are also contributing significantly to the development of two key instruments for the ELT. The “Multi-AO Imaging Camera for Deep Observations” (MICADO) is a high-resolution camera that will reveal the structures and formation of distant galaxies in detail. The “Mid-infrared ELT Imager and Spectrograph” (METIS) is designed for the mid-infrared range, making it ideal for examining cold or dust-covered objects that emit light primarily in this frequency range.
Correcting Atmospheric Turbulence
The Linz team is providing algorithms for the project that can be used to correct atmospheric turbulence, which disturbs earth-based astronomical observations. This essential contribution will enable astronomers to take sharp images of the universe.
A New Era in Astronomy
The Extremely Large Telescope will usher in a new era in astronomy, allowing scientists to study the universe in unprecedented detail. With its massive size and advanced instruments, the ELT will provide groundbreaking insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planets.
References:
[1] Innovitalia. (2024, February 8). ELT, l’astrofisica italiana in prima linea.
[2] Media INAF. (2023, July 11). L’Extremely Large Telescope è a metà dell’opera.
[3] Wikipedia. (n.d.). Extremely Large Telescope.
