Hawaii's giant $1.4bn alien hunting telescope
- Hawaii's land board granted permission for the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope
- Will be built atop the state's tallest mountain, called Mauna Kea
- Has drawn impassioned protests over the impact of a spiritual place
Opponents of the $1.4 billion project say it will desecrate land sacred to Native Hawaiians while supporters say it will provide educational and economic opportunities.
THE 30 METRE TELESCOPE
The $1.1bn telescope would be able to observe planets that orbit stars other than the sun and enable astronomers to watch new planets and stars being formed.
It should also help scientists see some 13 billion light years away for a glimpse into the early years of the universe.
Its primary mirror will measure 30 metres in diameter and be made up of 492 individual segments
When construction is complete, it is expected to be three-times wider than the largest existing visible-light telescope in the world, and will have nine times more area.
The telescope could find planets around other stars in the 'habitable zone,' where liquid water is possible on a planet's surface, the project's website says.
Telescopes on the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island.
This is pretty cool, hopefully, when/if it is built it will be able to gather interesting data on habitable worlds.
yeah
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