World’s largest
mirrors

Image resolving power

The primary mirrors will give the Giant Magellan Telescope 7–10 times the light-gathering power of the most advanced telescopes that exist today.10 times the image resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope

4 times the image resolution of the James Webb Space Telescope

3 times the image resolution of the Large Binocular Telescope

Image resolving power

4 times the image resolution of the James Webb Space Telescope

3 times the image resolution of the Large Binocular Telescope

Climate control

4 times the image resolution of the James Webb Space Telescope

3 times the image resolution of the Large Binocular Telescope

Revolution in Resolution

Agosto 14, 2018

Excavation Begins on Giant Magellan Telescope Site in Chile

News

24.5 M

is the total area of the primary mirrors. The primary mirror will be comprised of seven separate 8.4 meter (27 foot) diameter segments.

<10G

The thickness of the aluminium film that the mirrors are coated with is just a few atoms. Thus the huge mirror needs just a few grams of aluminium for the coat.

17 TONS

is the total weight of the mirrors. It is a borosilicate glass with a very low, and very uniform, rate of thermal expansion.