The largest telescope dome ever built

With a 39-m mirror, ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope will be the largest optical telescope ever built. But how will we protect it from the harsh conditions of the Atacama Desert?
Join ESO astronomer Suzanna Randall in this episode of Chasing Starlight, where she travels to Chile to tell us about the amazing engineering behind the ELT’s gigantic dome.
00:00 Introduction
00:44 Why do we need a dome?
02:28 Aerodynamic design
04:20 Solar powered air conditioning
04:57 What next?
Discover more from ESO:
Learn the gist of the latest discoveries and updates from ESO: • Record-breaking stella...
Discover the telescope that will makes us rethink our place in the cosmos: • Mirror segments get sh...
Enjoy breathtaking views of astronomical objects: • The 1.5-billion-pixel ...
Travel to the location of astronomical objects on the night sky: • Zooming in on the NGC ...
Credit:
ESO
Directed by: M. Wallner, L. Calçada, M. Kornmesser, J. C. Munoz-Mateos
Hosted by: S. Randall
Written by: P. Freeman, T. Howarth, B. Ferreira
Editing: M. Kornmesser, L. Calçada
Videography: A. Tsaousis, R. Soruco
Animations & footage: M. Kornmesser, L. Calçada, C. Malin/ Vectorial/ J. F. Salgado/ Chepox/ G. Huedepohl (atacamaphoto.com)/ESO/Alessio Dradi (Cimolai), ESO/ACe Consortium, ESO/G. Beccari.
Music: Videvo
Web and technical support: G. Bazin, R. Shida
Scientific consultant: P. Amico
Promotion: O. Sandu
Filming Locations: ESO Supernova (supernova.eso.org), Cerro Armazones in northern Chile.
Produced by ESO, the European Southern Observatory (eso.org)
ESO #europeansouthernobservatory #astronomy #science

[@ESOChasingStarlight]

What else would you like to learn about the ELT in future videos?

[@MichaelCarter]

Where is the mirror?

[@deanj3016]

🎩💙🍷🖖🏻

[@marc.w.7692]

das dämpfungskonzept würde mich interessieren und die plastizität des ganzen und wie die instrumente dem bauwerk widersprechen können. lg narc

[@DanielVerberne]

Is there any requirement for IT professionals to support the work being done by ESO? As an IT Professional with a passion for science and space exploration in particular, it would be so satisfying to combine the two fields.

[@SDN_zero9]

Thanks and hello from Switzerland 🇨🇭

[@Brandon-oc8lr]

2:43 cinematic gold

[@ESOChasingStarlight]

Oops!

[@NunoPereira.]

Fantastic telescope. Can't wait to see its images.

[@olorin4317]

A modern wonder. I used to imagine how large a telescope could possibly be when I was a kid. So it is like seeing a childhood dream come true.

[@ESOChasingStarlight]

We're glad to be part of that dream!

[@dayansuarez2634]

Impressive and exciting, thanks for the video, greetings

[@ESOChasingStarlight]

You're welcome, glad you like it!

[@heindrick_bazaar4446]

And to think it was almost even bigger than this!

[@MichaelCarter]

I want to visit

[@deanj3016]

🎩💙🍷🖖🏻

[@woody5109]

What’s underneath this monster?

[@ESOChasingStarlight]

In our latest video we take you under the telescope to show you the anti-seismic devices that keep the telescope safe from earthquakes. Check it out! czcams.com/video/y_nfFwKwmmM/video.html

[@marc.w.7692]