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Article: World's largest and most technologically advanced telescope to debut on July 24
- Article from:
- The Hindustan Times
- Article date:
- July 14, 2009
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Washington, July. 14 -- The world's largest, most technologically advanced telescope is all set to make its formal debut on July 24 in Spain's Canary Islands.
Known as the Gran Telescopio Canarias, the telescope has a 10.4-meter diameter mirror, and has more light-collecting area than any other telescope.
Perched 7,874 feet above sea level on a mountain on the island of La Palma, the GTC has 6 square meters more light collecting area than any of the roughly one dozen 8- to 10-meter telescopes worldwide.
With a mirror composed of 36 hexagonal segments thought to have the smoothest surfaces ever made, it is also the world's most technologically advanced optical telescope.
Sensors keep the ...