Worlds Largest Optical Telescope to Debut July 24

[bystander]

Inauguration of the Gran Telescopio Canaris telescope
Astronomy.com - 2009 July 13

The GTC has 65 square feet (6 square meters) more light-collecting area than any of the roughly one dozen 8- to 10-meter telescopes worldwide.

Four hundred years after Galileo first turned his handmade telescope toward the heavens, the world's largest telescope is set to make its formal debut.

The inauguration of the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) is scheduled for July 24 in Spain's Canary Islands. The telescope's 10.4-meter diameter mirror boasts more light-collecting area than any other instrument of its kind. Officials and astronomers from the University of Florida, the only U.S. institution that is part of the project, will join more than 500 astronomers, journalists, and celebrities in a ceremony presided over by Spain's King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia.

[neufer]

Inauguration of the Gran Telescopio Canaris telescope
Astronomy.com - 2009 July 13

The GTC has 65 square feet (6 square meters) more light-collecting area than any of the roughly one dozen 8- to 10-meter telescopes worldwide.

Four hundred years after Galileo first turned his handmade telescope toward the heavens, the world's largest telescope is set to make its formal debut.

The inauguration of the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) is scheduled for July 24 in Spain's Canary Islands. The telescope's 10.4-meter diameter mirror boasts more light-collecting area than any other instrument of its kind. Officials and astronomers from the University of Florida, the only U.S. institution that is part of the project, will join more than 500 astronomers, journalists, and celebrities in a ceremony presided over by Spain's King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia.

Q: What's yellow, weighs 1,000 pounds, and sings ?

A: Two 500 pound canaries!

[harry]

G'day from the land of ozzzzz

This is fantastic.

Waiting for the images.

[aristarchusinexile]

Should be quite a show!