World's Largest Telescope Up and Running

apdyck writes "ITWire is reporting that the world's largest telescope is now up and running, conducting one-year series of tests. The Great Canary Telescope, located in the Canary Islands, is the largest telescope in the world at 10.4 m (34') in diameter. Not for your average stargazer! 'The reflective telescope, sometimes also called GranTeCan, uses technology called adaptive optics, in which the mirror changes its shape in order to correct distortions of light caused by the Earth's atmosphere. The telescope is part of the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, located on the island of La Palma, Spain, within the Atlantic Ocean.'"

Comments

iTWire Strikes Again

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't think it's the largest, at least larger are being constructed. Most lists of large telescopes are measured by aperture (making the GCT third) and while the article notes the problem that other large telescopes can't use their full mirror potential, it neglects to mention that it will be destroyed by the two mirrors on the LBT. According to a BBC article,

The twins can also be made to work in tandem - as a so-called interferometer - which allows them to mimic a larger telescope that is 85m (279ft) wide. It's funny how I can submit a story only to have it rejected then have it accepted as two different stories the next week.