GALLERY AND LINKS
Links
Extremely Large Telescopes
There are a number of ongoing or completed design studies for telescopes with
diameters upwards of 20 metres.
Name |
Aperture (m) |
Remarks |
|---|---|---|
100 |
ESO (concept study, completed) |
|
50 |
Lund Observatory (Sweden), with collaboration from Spanish, Finnish, UK, and Irish institutes (concept study, completed) |
|
30 |
Collaboration of institutes in USA and Canada (Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy (ACURA), CALTECH, University of California) collaboration (design study in progress) |
|
30 |
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (design study in progress) |
|
25 |
Collaboration of institutes in USA and Australia (design study in progress) |
European Programmes and Activities
The FP6 ELT Design Study is conducted jointly by European research institutes and industry, and it is sponsored by the European Commission. Although it was initiated as a technological development programme for a generic ELT, the Design Study is now fully focused on the needs of the E-ELT.
The FP7 E-ELT Preparation Programme (password protected) complements the final design phase of the E-ELT in several ways, including the implementation of a detailed Design Reference Mission. It is funded by the European Commission and conducted by ESO and 25 research institutes in its member states.
OPTICON is an Integrated Infrastructure Initiative funded by the European Commission as part of its Sixth Framework Programme. OPTICON brings together providers and users of European astronomical infrastructures to identify common approaches and improve access for the benefit of all European astronomy.
ASTRONET was created by a group of European funding agencies in order to establish a comprehensive long-term planning for the development of European astronomy.
The mission of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) is to support a coherent and strategy-led approach to policy-making on research infrastructures in Europe, and to facilitate multilateral initiatives leading to the better use and development of research infrastructures, at EU and international level.