Overview of the European Extremely Large Telescope and its instrument suite

Understand

The European Extremely Large Telescope will see first lights by the end of 2024.

• With a diameter of almost 40 meters, it will be the biggest optical telescope ever built from the ground.
• The ELT will open a brand new window in a sensitivity / spatial angular resolution parameter space.
• To take the full benefit of the scientific potential of this giant, all the instruments will be equipped with Adaptive Optics (AO), providing the sharpest images.