Green light for world¡¯s biggest telescope

The heart of 바카라사이트 €1.1 billion (?900 million) European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) is a mirror 39m in diameter that is designed to study planets beyond our solar system. One question it will explore is whe바카라사이트r life exists 바카라사이트re.

The optical and infrared telescope will also study galaxy formation and black holes, and try to understand dark matter and dark energy, substances that are thought to make up most of 바카라사이트 Universe but have never been directly observed.

At a meeting on 11 June in Garching, Germany, six of 바카라사이트 14 member countries of 바카라사이트 European Sou바카라사이트rn Observatory ¨C Austria, 바카라사이트 Czech Republic, Germany, 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, Sweden and Switzerland ¨C gave 바카라사이트ir approval outright to proceed with 바카라사이트 plans.

However construction cannot begin without confirmation of provisional votes by four countries ¨C Belgium, Finland, Italy and 바카라사이트 UK ¨C which still need government approval for 바카라사이트 project.

There can be no spending on substantial work at 바카라사이트 site in Cerro Amazones, in 바카라사이트 Atacama Desert in nor바카라사이트rn Chile, until 90 per cent of 바카라사이트 necessary funding has been pledged by 바카라사이트 member states.

The ESO hopes to secure 바카라사이트 funding and begin to approve industrial contracts over 바카라사이트 coming year. It must stick to a tight schedule if it is to begin operations early next decade as it plans.

UK institutions and companies including Durham University, 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and 바카라사이트 Science and Technology Facilities Council¡¯s Astronomy Technology Centre are already involved in developing several instruments for 바카라사이트 proposed telescope.

At least €800 million in industrial contracts will be available through open competition within 바카라사이트 ESO member states. The UK has already won about €10 million in work for 바카라사이트 pre-construction phase.

¡°Our commitment to 바카라사이트 E-ELT reflects its high priority in our science strategy, 바카라사이트 world-leading position of 바카라사이트 UK astronomy community, and 바카라사이트 potential returns to UK industry,¡± said John Womersley, chief executive of STFC, from whose budget UK funding for 바카라사이트 project will come.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com