ELT's future home

When ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) begins observing the Universe, it will be the largest optical/near-infrared telescope in the world. With a gigantic 39-metre diametre mirror, the ELT will be able to take images of the Universe in stunning detail, and achieve incredible scientific discoveries.

The ELT will be built on the Cerro Armazones mountain in Chile. This image shows the progress of construction as of 2016, with the peak of the mountain flattened, laying the foundations for the facility. Updates on the building progress can be followed through the Cerro Armazones webcam on this page, which provides a live feed of the mountain.

An idea of what the telescope will look like when complete can be found here.