A sneak peek of M2's metallic cradle | ELT updates

Measuring 4.25 meters across and weighing 12 tonnes, the ELT's M2 mirror will be the largest ever secondary mirror on a telescope. Within the ELT, it will be held by a specially designed cell, currently being tested and which you can discover in this video.

The cell must ensure the mirror’s correct shape down to the size of a virus, and position it with the accuracy of the width of a human hair!

Learn more about ESO's ELT at: https://elt.eso.org/ 

Watch our ELT playlist here.

Credit:

ESO

Directed by: Angelos Tsaousis
Editing: Angelos Tsaousis
Web and technical support: Gurvan Bazin and Raquel Yumi Shida
Written by: Bárbara Ferreira, Martin Wallner
Consultants: Joan Manel Casalta, Albert Tomas, Michele Cirasuolo
Footage and photos: ESO, Angelos Tsaousis, Martin Wallner, Samuel Santana Tschudi, Mahdi Zamani
Music: Jon Kennedy – Flux
Acknowledgement: Sener, ALBA-CELLS

About the Video

Id:elt0005a
Release date:14 September 2023, 15:00
Duration:01 m 00 s
Frame rate:25 fps

About the Object

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

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