Engineers and builders began constructing a 2800-ton dome E-ELT optical telescope. After completion of construction, in the middle of the next decade, the E-ELT will become the world's largest ground-based optical observatory. This was reported by the press service of the European Southern Observatory (ESO).

According to ESO, the construction of the dome of the building officially began this week, where the E-ELT (European Extremely Large Telescope) is still the most expensive and ambitious ground-based astronomical project.

Its total cost, according to ESO estimates, will exceed one billion euros. Most of this money will be spent on the manufacture of equipment and the construction of the observatory building. The most expensive and complex component of the telescope is its record-breaking large mirror, whose diameter will be about 39 meters. It will be assembled from 798 hexagonal segments measuring 1.4 meters.

This huge mirror, as well as two auxiliary reflecting surfaces with a diameter of 4.2 and 3.75 meters, will help E-ELT get the first detailed photographs of planets outside the Solar System, stars in other galaxies, as well as look for Earth's doubles. In addition, scientists will try to use this observatory to observe the surroundings of Sgr A *, a supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way.

nauka.tass.ru