ESO Buries Time Capsule at Construction Site of World’s Largest Telescope
On October 13, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) marked a significant milestone in the construction of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) by burying a commemorative time capsule at the site. The ELT, set to be the largest visible and infrared light telescope in the world, is expected to revolutionize our understanding of the universe.
The time capsule was sealed in 2017, when construction first began, and contains various tokens celebrating the ESO staff and the fruitful cooperation between the observatory and Chile. It also pays tribute to the remarkable science and technology behind the 39.3-meter telescope.
ESO officials stated, “Serving as a symbolic message to future generations, it contains mementos from Chilean authorities, including a plaque from the then President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet Jeria, about opening the skies of the country to the questions of an entire planet, as well as drawings from Chilean children featuring the Universe, ESO telescopes, and northern Chile landscapes.”
The time capsule was buried in the concrete of the ELT dome on Cerro Armazones in the Chilean Atacama Desert, where the ESO currently operates its Very Large Telescope (VLT). It was covered with an engraved hexagon, representing a one-fifth-scale model of one of the ELT’s primary mirror segments.
ESO Council President Linda Tacconi and Vice-President Mirjam Lieshout-Vijverberg had the honor of burying the time capsule. Tacconi and other council members also installed a commemorative plaque next to the burial site a few days after the event.
With an expected completion date of 2028, the ELT is already halfway through its construction. Although it currently stands as a steel structure, it will eventually house five separate mirrors, the largest of which will consist of 798 individual hexagonal segments.
Once complete, the ELT will have a width of 39.3 meters and will be capable of capturing more light than any other ground-based telescope. This enhanced light-gathering ability will enable the ELT to produce sharper images of celestial objects, potentially aiding in the search for extraterrestrial life and uncovering new insights into the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy.
ESO officials shared their excitement, stating, “As the largest optical and infrared telescope in the world, the ELT will shift our understanding of the universe. Its scientific goals range from the solar system to the edge of the observable universe, including exoplanets, black holes, and the first stars and galaxies.”
The burial of the time capsule serves as a poignant reminder of the momentous construction efforts behind the ELT and the hopes and dreams for scientific discoveries that will be made with this groundbreaking telescope.