Displaying items by tag: Giant Magellan Telescope

GMTO Corporation is the non-profit organization based in Pasadena, Calif., USA, that is coordinating the Giant Magellan Telescope project.

The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) is a ground-based extremely large telescope planned for completion in 2020.

It will consist of seven 8.4 m diameter primary segments, with the resolving power of a 24.5 m primary mirror and collecting area equivalent to a 22.0 m one, (which is about 368 square meters).

The telescope is expected to have over 5-10 times the light-gathering ability of existing instruments. Three mirrors are cast and the mountain top is being prepared for construction. A total of seven primary mirrors are planned, but it can begin operation with only four.