The European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) is a planned ground-based extremely large telescope for the optical/near-infrared range, to be built by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) on a mountain top in Cerro Armazones, Chile. The design comprises a reflecting telescope with a 39.3 metre diameter primary mirror, a 4.2 m diameter secondary mirror, and will be supported by adaptive optics and multiple instruments. On 11 June 2012, the ESO Council approved The E-ELT programme to begin construction of the telescope, pending agreement with the governments of some member states.
It is expected to allow astronomers to probe the earliest stages of the formation of planetary systems and to detect water and organic molecules in proto-planetary discs around stars in the making.
Read more about European Extremely Large Telescope: History, Goals and Planning, Design, Science Goals, Instrumentation, Comparison, Gallery, Comparable Instruments
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