ELT mirror segments, a fragile delivery

This image looks into the back of a semi-trailer truck from a metal dock. Inside the truck bed are three white, large containers with several labels, including the words Very Fragile Optical Glass Component, written in red. Around the containers are white bags filled with air.

This photograph, taken at a storage facility near Poitiers, France, shows the first segments of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope main mirror being loaded onto a transport container, starting their 10 000 km journey to Chile. The segments include pieces of glass close to 1.5 metres across yet only 5 centimetres thick, thus need to be handled with extreme care.

Credit:

ESO/A. Centeio

Usage of ESO Images, Videos, Web texts and Music
Are you a journalist? Subscribe to the ESO Media Newsletter in your language.

About the Image

Id:eso2319c
Type:Photographic
Release date:18 December 2023, 14:00
Related releases:eso2319
Size:3000 x 4000 px

About the Object

Name:Extremely Large Telescope
Type:Unspecified : Technology
Category:ELT

Image Formats

Fullsize Original
34.4 MB
Large JPEG
2.5 MB
Publication TIFF 4K
16.3 MB
Publication JPEG
2.5 MB
Screensize JPEG
432.1 KB
Send us your comments!
Subscribe to receive news from ESO in your language
Accelerated by CDN77
Terms & Conditions