European Extremely Large Telescope

Definition

The European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) is an astronomical observatory currently under construction by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile. It will be the world's largest optical/near-infrared telescope, designed to advance our understanding of the universe.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The E-ELT will have a primary mirror 39 meters in diameter, making it the largest of its kind.
2. Located on Cerro Armazones in the Atacama Desert, its site was chosen for optimal observing conditions.
3. It aims to address key scientific questions including the nature of dark matter and dark energy.
4. The E-ELT will use adaptive optics to correct for atmospheric distortions, providing extremely sharp images.
5. Construction began in 2014 and first light is expected in the late 2020s.

Review Questions

• What is the diameter of the E-ELT's primary mirror?
• Why was Cerro Armazones chosen as the location for the E-ELT?
• What technological feature allows the E-ELT to achieve sharp images despite atmospheric distortions?

Related terms

Hubble Space Telescope: A space-based observatory launched by NASA in 1990 that has provided significant contributions to astronomy through its high-resolution imaging.

Adaptive Optics: A technology used in telescopes to adjust for distortions caused by Earth's atmosphere, allowing clearer observation of celestial objects.

Very Large Telescope (VLT): An array of four optical telescopes located at ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile, used for various astronomical observations.