- Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is being constructed under the Milky Way's glow.
- A crane's cable is cutting through the telescope's frame to lift building materials.
- The telescope's white structural frame stands tall, surrounded by future dome doors.
This stunning image beautifully captures the latest stage in the construction of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), glowing beneath the sweeping band of the Milky Way. Meanwhile, a crane’s long cable slices through the frame like a dramatic fishing line, appearing to reach into the cosmos to lift building materials. “Through this visual”, the telescope’s white structural frame stands tall within the partially built dome, while the skeletal outlines of the future dome doors surround it. Ultimately, these doors will play a vital role in shielding the telescope’s delicate instruments from the harsh desert conditions.
Once complete, these doors will protect the telescope’s delicate mirrors and instruments from the harsh environment of Chile’s Atacama Desert.
One of ESO’s live observatory webcams captured this image, offering a real-time glimpse into the progress at their ground-based facilities. The snapshot may not fully convey the scale, but the ELT is truly colossal. When completed, its dome will stand 80 meters tall (about 260 feet), nearly matching the height of Big Ben without its spire. For a sense of scale, look near the base of the structure — the tiny crane trucks parked below emphasize just how much the telescope has already grown.
The ELT is steadily becoming the world’s largest optical telescope, rising beneath some of the clearest night skies on Earth. ESO’s live webcams place viewers right at the heart of the action, offering a front-row seat to this extraordinary construction. These real-time views aim to make you feel like you’re part of the journey — standing in the desert, watching history unfold under the stars.
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