The Atacama Desert in Chile is one of the best locations on Earth to explore the universe 

The Giant Magellan Telescope is under construction on Las Campanas Peak at the southern edge of Chile’s Atacama Desert, the driest non-polar desert in the world. The site is located within Las Campanas Observatory (LCO) near the twin Magellan Telescopes, approximately 160 kilometers northeast of the coastal city of La Serena. From here, astronomers will peer into the galactic center of the Milky Way and millions of lightyears beyond.

The location’s high altitude, clear skies, dark nights, and steady atmosphere all contribute to great potential scientific discoveries. Of the many experts involved in the construction of the Giant Magellan, Former Vice President Miguel Roth, Chief Scientist Rebecca Bernstein, and Vice President and Legal Representative in Chile Oscar Contreras-Villarroel, share their experience at LCO, the importance of science specific to the Southern Hemisphere, and the collective effort to preserve Chile’s dark skies.

How have you seen astronomy grow during your time at Las Campanas Observatory and what makes it such a special place?

Former Giant Magellan Vice President Miguel Roth at the Giant Magellan Telescope site in Chile. Image Credit: Pablo Izquierdo

Former Giant Magellan Vice President and Former Las Campanas Observatory Director Miguel Roth:

When I arrived at Las Campanas Observatory in 1978, it was relatively small, with two other resident astronomers and relying mostly on the technical support of Carnegie Science’s staff in Pasadena, CA. LCO had already made significant contributions in diverse areas, like the imaging of the first circumstellar disk, Beta Pictoris, the discovery of the Supernova 1987A, and other important discoveries. Since then, it has developed enormously. The amazing development of knowledge in astrophysics over recent decades goes without saying.

On a local scale, the impact of LCO and other international observatories in the development of Chilean astronomy is huge. In the late 1980s, the number of professional astronomers in Chile was of the order of 20. These days, there are over 220 astronomers with a Ph.D. in various departments, groups, and universities in the country.

The location’s scientific value is supported by seven decades of active telescope use including the Swope (1971), du Pont (1967), and Twin Magellan telescopes (2001). During my nearly 25 years serving as the Director of LCO and being part of the construction and operations of the Twin Magellan telescopes, I’ve seen major astronomical breakthroughs, including the beginning of the first synoptic galaxies radial velocity surveys, the exquisite improvement of radial velocity measurements for the detection of exoplanets, the discovery of the most distant black hole, and the first spectrum of a neutron star-neutron star merger. Today, LCO continues to play an important role in modern astronomy through follow-up observations of astrophysical phenomena and objects with a variety of instruments.

The Atacama Desert is a special place and taking care of its dark skies is a priority. The Southern sky is home to many of the world’s most advanced ground-based telescopes and with the addition of the Giant Magellan, it will continue to be the world’s premier astronomy research center.

What are astronomers interested in viewing from the Southern Hemisphere and what types of scientific discoveries do you anticipate from these observations?

Giant Magellan Chief Scientist Rebecca Bernstein at Las Campanas Observatory. Image Credit: Giant Magellan Telescope, GMTO Corporation and OJO Entertainment

Giant Magellan Chief Scientist and Carnegie Science Staff Astronomer Rebecca Bernstein:

The Giant Magellan’s location in the Southern Hemisphere is ideal for observations of a lot of unique targets, including the center of the Milky Way, the nearest star that hosts potentially habitable planets (Proxima Centauri), and the Magellanic Clouds, to name a few. 

There are also a wide range of observatories that will be or already are operating in Chile and Antarctica. They’re there for the same reason the Giant Magellan will be — because of both the astronomical and geographical advantages of their sites. The science from all of these observatories is infinitely greater when we can study the same objects and phenomena with complementary capabilities. To give just one example, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory is currently a few years from operation. When it’s complete, it will begin a survey to find “transient” targets — which are basically exploding stars that evolve dramatically in timescales of minutes to days. We’ll need to take spectra of those to gain the scientific benefit of those discoveries, and that will require a telescope the size of the Giant Magellan. With those spectra, we’ll learn about the physics of those explosions, the galaxies they reside in, and identify their locations in space to track the expansion of the universe. And that’s just the beginning. 

What really makes the future of the Giant Magellan so exciting is discovering the unknown. These unexpected discoveries will provide humanity with new perspectives of our place in the universe and provide new questions about things we never knew existed. 

As city centers and large suburban areas grow, how is Chile staying at the forefront of dark skies preservation?

Giant Magellan Vice President and Legal Representative in Chile Oscar Contreras-Villarroel at the Giant Magellan Telescope site in Chile. Image Credit: Giant Magellan Telescope, GMTO Corporation and OJO Entertainment

Giant Magellan Vice President and Legal Representative in Chile Oscar Contreras-Villarroel:

Dark regions far away from sources of light pollution are best for viewing the faintest objects in the universe. From LCO’s remote location, the Giant Magellan sits away from light pollution and in the thin atmosphere of Las Campanas Peak. This is one of the unique qualities of the Atacama Desert.

The Giant Magellan is committed to preserving the dark skies of Chile and our team is working to mitigate light pollution in the Atacama Desert and in the country. We are doing so by working collaboratively with all of the international observatories in Chile, along with the Oficina de Protección de los Cielos del Norte de Chile (OPCC), a technical office providing advice to any city, location, or organization that requires it in Chile, and the Fundación Cielos de Chile (FCC), a non-profit organization promoting the importance of dark skies protection and mitigating light pollution by implementing outreach programs and working with the local government to improve measurements and protect the skies. 

We celebrate the efforts of the government in implementing the new light norm (the regulatory body for public and other open spaces illumination, and astronomy-friendly fixtures), that in 2023 declared 29 towns in the north of Chile as “astronomy areas” to enhance dark sky protection, thus leading a national movement to protect the night sky for every citizen and for astronomy research. This will make Chile the capital of astronomy, concentrating around 70% of the worlds ground-based astronomy infrastructure by 2030.

Read more about Las Campanas Peak here

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National Science Foundation to deliver funding plan for the U.S. Extremely Large Telescope Program by May 2024

On February 22, 2024, the National Science Board (NSB) released a statement and resolution regarding National Science Foundation’s (NSF) funding prospects for the U.S. Extremely Large Telescope Program (US-ELTP). The statement recognized the program as “the top recommendation for NSF’s ground-based initiatives” and affirms that “the Board stands ready to help the [NSF] agency meet this important, ambitious, and visionary goal for U.S. science and leadership.”

In response, the Giant Magellan Telescope released the following statement:

“The National Academies’ Astro2020 Decadal Survey highlighted the transformational science the US-ELTP would enable. U.S. astronomy plays a vital role in advancing our understanding of the universe and federal investment is a critical aspect of maintaining the nation’s global leadership and advancing compelling science. We respect the National Science Board’s recommendation to the National Science Foundation and remain committed to working closely with the NSF and the astronomical community to ensure the successful realization of the highest recommendation of the Decadal Survey, which will enable cutting-edge research and discoveries for years to come.”

The NSB announcement follows closely after the Giant Magellan Telescope welcomed Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA) into its international consortium, expanding the consortium to 14 universities and research institutions. Membership now includes 8 universities and research institutions representing 6 states from the U.S. and 6 universities and research institutions from Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Of the approved total project cost of $2.54 billion submitted to the NSF, the Giant Magellan Telescope’s consortium has collectively committed more than $850 million. More than 60% of this funding share comes from U.S.-based members of the consortium.

About

The Giant Magellan Telescope is the future of space exploration from Earth. Using seven of the world’s largest mirrors, the 25.4-meter telescope will produce the most detailed images ever taken of our universe. It will uncover the cosmic mysteries of dark matter, investigate the origins of chemical elements, and verify signs of life on distant planets for the first time. Giant Magellan is the work of the GMTO Corporation, an international consortium of 14 universities and research institutions representing Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States. The telescope is under construction in Chile and anticipated to be completed in the early 2030s.

The Universe Awaits at giantmagellan.org.

Media Contact Ryan Kallabis Director of Communications & Outreach rkallabis@gmto.org +1 626 204 0554

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Chemical elements come full circle in the cycle of glass for the world’s largest optical mirrors, launching our view into the universe.

At 200 times more powerful than today’s best telescopes, scientists will use the Giant Magellan Telescope to study nearly all aspects of astrophysics—from searching for signs of life on distant exoplanets to investigating the cosmic origins of chemical elements. In fact, astronomers will study the very same explosive phenomena that created the elements necessary to fabricate the telescope. 

These elements are created when supernovas from exploding stars cause particles to collide with extreme energy, launching newly formed chemical elements into the universe. The elements are pulled into clouds of dust and molecular gas so dense, that portions collapse to form young parent stars haloed by protostellar discs. Gravitationally bound to a young parent star, rocky planets then snowball into formation—rich with heavy elements. 
 
Fast-forward millions of years, the silica-rich continental crust of a rocky planet generates mineral deposits of pure quartz sand. Silica from these quartz-rich sands, and boron from salt flats, are refined into powder that is then melted to produce the borosilicate glass used in the telescope’s giant mirrors. 

Cycle of Glass Infographic

Cycle of Glass for the Giant Magellan Telescope Infographic. Credit: Damien Jemison, Giant Magellan Telescope – GMTO Corporation

The process of casting the Giant Magellan’s seven primary mirrors (the world’s largest optics) begins at the University of Arizona Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab where technicians melt 20 tons of high-purity, low-expansion, borosilicate E6 glass into the world’s only spinning furnace designed to cast giant mirrors for telescopes. At the peak of the melting process, the furnace spins at five revolutions per minute, heating the glass to 1,165 degrees Celsius (2,129 F) for approximately five hours until it liquefies into the mold. 

The mirrors then enters a one month annealing process where the glass is cooled while the furnace spins at a slower rate to remove internal stresses and toughen the glass. From there, it takes another few months to cool to room temperature. This process gives the mirror surface its unique parabolic shape. Once cooled, each mirror is polished for approximately two years before reaching an optical surface precision of less than one thousandth of the width of a human hair. All seven of Giant Magellan’s primary mirrors are either complete or in production. 

Time lapse of several stages of the mirror casting process, including creating the light-weighted mirror mold, loading nearly 20 tons of borosilicate glass into the mold, and the furnace spinning at five revolutions per minute during “high fire” at the University of Arizona Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab.

These mirrors will allow astronomers to see farther into the universe with more detail than any other optical telescope before. They are a crucial part of the optical design that allows the Giant Magellan to have the highest image quality over the widest field of view of any extremely large telescope in the 30-meter class. The advantage is extremely powerful for spectroscopy and the precise measurements of distances, dynamics, chemistry, and masses of celestial objects in deep space.  

Learn more about the world’s largest mirrors here

Author Savannah Gasparo Assistant Director of Communications swinans@gmto.org 626-204-0547

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Through ASIAA, Taiwan joins Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, South Korea, and the United States in building one of the world’s largest and most powerful telescopes

PASADENA, CA — February 20, 2024 — The Giant Magellan Telescope today welcomes Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA), a distinguished Taiwanese research institute, into its international consortium. ASIAA’s inclusion expands the consortium to 14 international research institutions, underscoring Giant Magellan’s significance to the global astronomy community and the consortium’s commitment to prioritizing global collaboration for the advancement of science.

“We are thrilled to welcome ASIAA into our international consortium of distinguished partners,” said Dr. Walter Massey, Board Chair of the Giant Magellan Telescope. “Together, our consortium combines worldwide science expertise and engineering acumen to create a project that benefits all walks of research relating to the universe. This collective investment in the Giant Magellan Telescope is a testament that science can transcend boundaries and bind humanity together for good.”

The astronomical research and instrumental development capabilities in Taiwan have received international recognition. ASIAA will contribute expertise in areas such as low noise and compact detector electronics, precision detector characterization technology, precision laser cutting technology, and many others. These contributions will prove invaluable once the telescope is commissioned in the early 2030s.

Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA) headquarters at National Taiwan University. Image credit: ASIAA

“ASIAA is delighted to be a part of the Giant Magellan Telescope consortium, and the Taiwanese scientific community is prepared to contribute its expertise while also benefiting from the wealth of knowledge within the consortium,” said Dr. Ue-Li Pen, the Director of ASIAA. “Joining one of the thirty-meter-class telescopes has been a long-term aspiration for Taiwanese astronomers, and Giant Magellan is considered the most suitable project for this endeavor. The collaboration between ASIAA and the Giant Magellan Telescope establishes a robust foundation for astronomical research in Taiwan, with a particular emphasis on nurturing the development of new generations in the field. We also anticipate that this project will deepen collaboration between Taiwan and the six other countries in the consortium.”

Construction of the telescope advances rapidly in the Chilean Atacama Desert and in labs around the world. Over the past year, fabrication commenced on the seventh and final primary mirror in Arizona, while manufacturing of the 39-meter-tall mount structure began in Illinois. Progress includes completion of the first of seven mirror covers in Germany, and near completion of the telescope’s first adaptive secondary mirror in France and Italy. Other advancements were made on a suite of high-resolution imagers and spectrographs in Arizona, Australia, California, Massachusetts, South Korea, and Texas.

These optical technologies will enable the Giant Magellan to boast a remarkable tenfold increase in resolution compared to the Hubble Space Telescope and deliver up to 200 times the power of today’s best telescopes. The breakthrough technologies will empower scientists worldwide, offering unparalleled insights into the evolution of the universe, the origins of chemical elements, and the discovery of life on distant exoplanets for the first time.

Nighttime exterior Giant Magellan Telescope rendering with support site buildings in the foreground. Image credit: Giant Magellan Telescope – GMTO Corporation

News of ASIAA’s inclusion into the Giant Magellan Telescope’s international consortium was celebrated by elected officials in the United States dedicated to scientific advancements, democratic values, international partnerships.

US Senator of Arizona and former NASA Astronaut Mark Kelly emphasized how science collaborations can strengthen international relations. “Arizona has long been a leader in astronomy and optical research, and thanks to key contributions from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, the Giant Magellan Telescope will lead the way making the next generation of discoveries in astronomy,” said Senator Kelly. “We welcome the newest collaborators from Taiwan to the Giant Magellan consortium and look forward to strengthening ties between Arizona and Taiwan through our shared commitment to democracy, education, and innovation.”

US Congressman of Texas and Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Michael T. McCaul, also emphasized the significance of supporting large international research initiatives. “I’m glad our friends in Taiwan have joined this important project, which includes top-notch research institutions like Texas A&M and The University of Texas,” said Congressman McCaul. “The Giant Magellan Telescope will be a ground-breaking observatory that will expand our knowledge of the universe and enable the US to maintain its dominance in ground-based optical and infrared astronomy.”

ASIAA joins Arizona State University, Astronomy Australia Ltd., Australian National University, Carnegie Institution for Science, Harvard University, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, São Paulo Research Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, Texas A&M University, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Arizona, University of Chicago, and the Weizmann Institute of Science in building the Giant Magellan Telescope.

About

ASIAA
Academia Sinica is Taiwan’s national academy of sciences funded by the Presidential Office of Taiwan. Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA) is one of 32 institutes and centers of Academia Sinica and is the leading astronomical institute in Taiwan. ASIAA’s mission is to conduct fundamental, groundbreaking research in theory, observation, and instrumentation for astrophysics. Research areas cover the formation and evolution of stellar and planetary systems, cosmology and galaxies, black holes and high-energy astrophysics, the solar system, and astrophysical technology. ASIAA is located on the campus of National Taiwan University at the center of the city of Taipei and is a member of several international projects, providing opportunities for our members to conduct observations or technical developments at world-leading facilities. ASIAA is a founding member of the East-Asian Core Observatory Association (EACOA) and a member of the East-Asian Observatory (EAO). To learn more, visit asiaa.sinica.edu.tw.

Giant Magellan
The Giant Magellan Telescope is the future of space exploration from Earth. Using seven of the world’s largest mirrors, the 25.4-meter telescope will produce the most detailed images ever taken of our universe. It will uncover the cosmic mysteries of dark matter, investigate the origins of chemical elements, and verify signs of life on distant planets for the first time. Giant Magellan is the work of the GMTO Corporation, an international consortium of 14 research institutions representing Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States. The telescope is under construction in Chile and anticipated to be completed in the early 2030s. The Universe Awaits at giantmagellan.org.

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PASADENA, CA — January 8, 2024 — The Giant Magellan Telescope today announced the appointment of Dr. William Burgett as its new Project Manager to oversee the design, construction, and operation of the cutting-edge observatory. Having served as Interim Project Manager since February 2023 and Deputy Project Manager since 2015, Dr. Burgett officially takes the helm to advance the telescope into its next stage of construction.

“Dr. Burgett brings a wealth of experience in developing next generation research facilities for ground-based astronomy,” said Dr. Robert Shelton, President of the Giant Magellan Telescope. “We look forward to Dr. Burgett’s continued leadership as we progress with the construction of our 39-meter-tall telescope mount structure and continue to fabricate optical technologies that promise to deliver 200 times the power of today’s best telescopes.”

Dr. Burgett’s contributions have been instrumental in the progress of the Giant Magellan Telescope, serving as Interim Element Manager for critical subsystems in Optics and Optomechanics, Site, Enclosure, and Facilities, and Telescope Structures. Notably, he led the $135 million telescope mount procurement and managed the initial phases of the contract, the project’s largest procurement to date. Before joining the Giant Magellan Telescope, Dr. Burgett served as the Pan-STARRS Project Manager at the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy from 2005 to 2014, one of the most successful NASA funded observatories, having identified more than half of the larger “near-Earth objects” in orbit.

“I am honored to be selected as the Project Manager for the Giant Magellan Telescope,” said Dr. Burgett. “As one of the new generations of Extremely Large Telescopes, our observatory will enable science that will forever change our understanding of the Universe. I am passionately committed to our success and feel privileged to be part of the outstanding team building the observatory.”

About

The Giant Magellan Telescope is the future of space exploration from Earth. Using seven of the world’s largest mirrors, the 25.4-meter telescope will produce the most detailed images ever taken of our Universe. It will uncover the cosmic mysteries of dark matter, investigate the origins of chemical elements, and verify signs of life on distant planets for the first time. The Giant Magellan Telescope is the work of the GMTO Corporation, an international consortium of thirteen research institutions representing six countries. The telescope is under construction in Chile and anticipated to be completed in the early 2030s.

The Universe Awaits at giantmagellan.org.

Media Contact Ryan Kallabis Director of Communications & Outreach rkallabis@gmto.org +1 626 204 0554

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2023 was a year of construction milestones for the Giant Magellan Telescope. We cast our seventh and final 8.4-meter primary mirror and began fabricating the 39-meter-tall mount structure that will support and control the giant mirrors.

This is our story of 2023 told visually.

January Credit: Oscar Contreras-Villarroel, Giant Magellan Telescope – GMTO Corporation

Congreso Futuro hosted their Seventh Annual “Without Real Limit” event in Chile with an array of subject matter experts speaking on the exploration of what inspires us. The event featured 34 international speakers, including Giant Magellan Telescope Chief Scientist Rebecca Bernstein.

February Credit: Damien Jemison, Giant Magellan Telescope — GMTO Corporation

At the University of Arizona, we are validating key aspects of telescope phasing and adaptive optics in the construction of two laboratory bench testbeds, including the construction of a natural guide star wavefront sensor prototype to be integrated into one of the testbeds, the high contrast adaptive optics testbed.

March Credit: OHB Digital Connect GmbH

OHB Italia S.p.A finished manufacturing and testing the first of seven mirror covers for the Giant Magellan Telescope. In just over two minutes, the covers will deploy and retract in unison to protect the world’s largest mirrors when they’re not in use.

April Credit: Giant Magellan Telescope – GMTO Corporation

Commemorating 200 years of diplomatic relations with Chile and the U.S., Giant Magellan Telescope President Robert N. Shelton visited Santiago to meet with diplomatic officials including Chile’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alberto Van Klaveren, Minister of Science, Aisen Etcheverry, and Ambassador of the U.S., Bernadette Meehan.

May Credit: Giant Magellan Telescope – GMTO Corporation

In partnership with Antenna Foundation, the Giant Magellan Telescope launched its first digital art contest, Extrasolar. The open call was promoted in public spaces, including the Metro de Santiago, for Chilean and Chile based artists to submit their digital creations of exoplanets.

June Credit: Giant Magellan Telescope – GMTO Corporation

Las Campanas Observatory, the Giant Magellan Telescope, and the US Embassy in Chile hosted a workshop in La Serena to promote women’s STEM careers among girls in the Chilean fourth region. The workshop overviewed professional development in astronomy and computer science.

July Credit: Giant Magellan Telescope — GMTO Corporation

Manufacturing of the telescope structure (or mount) that holds and positions the Giant Magellan Telescope’s seven giant mirrors began at Ingersoll Machine Tools in Rockford, Illinois. Large steel welding and machine fabrication of major components for the rotating telescope structure are now in progress.

August Credit: Pablo Izquierdo

Scientists from the Giant Magellan Telescope and artist Jeff Koons led an engaging excursion to Chile’s Atacama Desert for an exclusive look at the telescope construction site. On the journey, the group enjoyed breathtaking views of the Chilean Andes, nighttime observing, as well as a tour of the Magellan telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory.

September Credit: Damien Jemison, Giant Magellan Telescope — GMTO Corporation

The 9th Annual Giant Magellan Telescope Community Science Meeting took place in Washington, D.C., bringing together observers, theorists, and instrumentalists to share plans for exoplanet research. Learn about the science instruments that will be used to study exoplanets in searching for life beyond Earth.

October Credit: Damien Jemison, Giant Magellan Telescope – GMTO Corporation

The University of Arizona Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab closed the lid on nearly 20 tons of the purest optical glass inside a one-of-a-kind oven for casting the Giant Magellan Telescope’s seventh and final primary mirror. The mirror reveal is anticipated in early 2024 before moving into the polishing stage.

November Credit: Damien Jemison, Giant Magellan Telescope – GMTO Corporation

At the University of Arizona Tech Park, the primary mirror support system prototype was successfully tilted at an angle of 13.5 degrees to verify performance. Look inside the primary mirror support system where the complex process of transforming collected light into science begins.

December Credit: Safran Reosc

With the first of seven adaptive secondary mirrors for the Giant Magellan Telescope anticipated for completion next year, thinning operations of the thin shell face sheet are underway. These deformable mirrors are being built to counteract the natural blurring effect of the Earth’s atmosphere.

The Universe Awaits for 2024!

To see more from the Giant Magellan Telescope, check out The Year in Photos 2022 and The Year in Photos 2021.

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The Giant Magellan Telescope’s adaptive secondary mirrors are being built to counteract the natural blurring effect of the Earth’s atmosphere.

When you look up at the sky on a dark night, you’ll notice that the stars appear to twinkle. As light passes through Earth’s atmosphere, it is distorted by turbulence, creating a twinkling effect from our perspective. Each stream of starlight is refracted by changes in temperature and density in the atmosphere. Similar to the effect of looking up through the surface when underwater in a swimming pool, light from stars seen through our atmosphere—whether by a telescope or with the naked eye—appears to twinkle and jump around.

Some locations are better than others for viewing the sky. Locations at high altitudes with stable climates, low humidity and cloud cover, and dark skies (low light pollution from manmade lights) make the best sites for telescopes. The site of the Giant Magellan Telescope, atop Las Campanas Peak in Chile’s Atacama Desert, is among the best in the world. The Las Campanas Observatory is at an altitude of almost 8,500 feet, in a remote location, in a low humidity desert. It is one of the best sites for a telescope in the world. However, we cannot overcome atmospheric turbulence from the ground through location alone.

The Giant Magellan Telescope’s adaptive secondary mirrors (ASM) are being built to counteract the natural blurring effect of the Earth’s atmosphere. With ASM technology, the optical clarity in next generation ground-based telescopes will surpass even that of space telescopes.

In parallel with advances in computer technologies in the 1990s, engineers have been developing the optical technologies used to counteract this natural blurring effect that’s been such a problem for astronomers. Enter adaptive optics, an astronomer’s “magic wand” for correcting the optical influence of the atmosphere. Atmospheric adaptive optics and ground-layer adaptive optics instruments work to counteract the distortions caused by ground-layer turbulence.

Making the Atmosphere Disappear

Frank Groark, deputy optics and optical metrology manager for the Giant Magellan Telescope, explains that “when measuring atmospheric turbulence, adaptive secondary mirrors implement the opposite distortion till the reflected starlight is perfectly corrected.” Building on the technology used at the Magellan Telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile and the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona, the Giant Magellan Telescope will employ the fourth-generation design of what’s known as adaptive secondary mirrors (ASMs), which are sophisticated hardware that put into action the technology and techniques encompassed by adaptive optics. The ASMs put into action the corrections determined from wavefront sensors, computers, and sophisticated algorithms, changing shape thousands of times per second using over 600 magnetic actuators, counteracting atmospheric turbulence in real time.

Exploded View of Giant Magellan Telescope Adaptive Secondary Mirror Rendering. Credit: Giant Magellan Telescope – GMTO Corporation

“These optical technologies do things that I wouldn’t have thought was ever possible twenty years ago,” shared Frank. Before ASM technology, astronomers had to rely solely on natural seeing with ground-based telescopes. Today, deformable mirrors are the most widely used technology in wavefront shaping applications for adaptive optics. The Giant Magellan Telescope has seven ASMs that hang above seven 8.4-meter primary mirrors, reflecting light back down to the focal plane of the telescope.

Each ASM is paired and aligned with one of the giant primary mirrors and is responsible for receiving the distorted light reflected from its corresponding primary mirror. With adaptive optics in the secondary mirrors, only two reflections are required to reach the focal plane with these corrections applied. These mirrors deform their surface at a rapid rate (2,000 times per second) refining the light before sending it to the telescope’s scientific instruments in the form of a concentrated beam to be analyzed.

Just as the telescope’s primary mirrors are exceptional (the largest mirrors made anywhere today), the ASMs are also exceptional—made using especially thin glass surfaces. Their reflective surface, known as a “thin shell face sheet,” is extremely flexible because of its 1.05-meter diameter and 2-millimeter thickness, the thickness of a nickel. The thin shell face sheet is made of Zerodur, a structurally stable, glass-ceramic material that is extremely insensitive to thermal changes. The thin shell face sheet will undergo polishing for approximately one year to reach the desired parabolic shape. Magnets are then adhered to the mirror frame, leaving a gap of 150 microns (equivalent to a sheet of paper) between the mirror’s back surface and its frame. Hovering unattached, the thin shell face sheet can deform as directed by the 675 independently controlled voice coil actuators in the frame.

Progress on Optical Technologies

Giant Magellan Telescope Adaptive Secondary Mirror Reference Body. Credit: AdOptica Giant Magellan Telescope Adaptive Secondary Mirror Reference Body. Credit: AdOptica Giant Magellan Telescope Adaptive Secondary Mirror Optical Surface. Credit: Safran Reosc.

The Giant Magellan Telescope’s first off axis ASM is currently in production with company called AdOptica, a renowned telescope and astronomical instruments design consortium. Following a manufacturing readiness review last year, a subscale Zerodur and full-scale nylon prototype demonstrated the machining process for fabrication. AdOptica’s subcontractor and leader in high performance optomechanical systems, Safran-Reosc, is producing the thin shell face sheet, and the polishing and testing of the concave optical surface is complete. Thinning operations are underway and are approaching the specified 2 mm thickness.

Manufacturing of the reference body has been completed by the University of Arizona and the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) in South Korea. The monolithic Zerodur blank has been machined to produce the lightweight, pocketed, structure. With construction and inspection of the main structural components finalized, the first of seven ASMs for the Giant Magellan Telescope is anticipated to be completed next year.

Giant Magellan Telescope Adaptive Secondary Mirror System first unit positioner mounted on test stand (yellow frame) at A.D.S. International (left). Giant Magellan Telescope Adaptive Secondary Mirror System first unit deformable mirror structural model integrated at A.D.S. International (right). Credit: AdOptica

With ASM technology, the optical clarity in next generation ground-based telescopes will surpass even that of space telescopes. The extremely large, segmented telescope will advance the future of ground-based optical infrared astronomy well beyond the capabilities of existing 10-meter class telescopes thanks to its ground layer adaptive optics over a full field of view—the widest field of view in the 30-meter class. This enables the telescope to see fainter objects with unrivaled resolution and sensitivity, more than 50 million times the light gathering power of the human eye.

These pivotal technologies allow for precise measurements of distances, dynamics, chemistry, and masses of celestial objects in deep space, expanding humanity’s reach in the search for life.

Learn more about the Giant Magellan Telescope’s adaptive secondary mirrors here.

Author Savannah Gasparo Assistant Director of Communications swinans@gmto.org 626-204-0547

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From 200 creative entries and more than 12,000 public votes, four winners of the inaugural Extrasolar Digital Art Competition were announced in Chile.

SANTIAGO — October 10, 2023 — Winners of the inaugural Extrasolar Digital Art Competition were announced today. The competition, created by Fundación Antenna and the Giant Magellan Telescope, was launched early in the year to promote creativity and the intersection between art and astronomy in the country of Chile. The competition honored four digital creators with artistic recognition within the country and a monetary award for their work.

The first year of the competition was well received by the Chilean art community, with more than 200 entries from 10 regions of the country. Contestants included both amateurs and professionals in digital creation, ranging in age from 14 to 65 years old. The artists where asked to submit creative proposals on how they imagine distant planets, and presented their work using various artistic disciplines in their videos such as stop motion, digital animation, and even artificial intelligence to recreate unknown planets.

After four months of open competition, the final selection process was carried out by a panel of judges made up of Rebecca Bernstein, Chief Scientist for the Giant Magellan Telescope; Daniel Cruz, Director of Chile’s Museum of Contemporary Art, and Carolina Pino, artist and professor at the UAI Design Lab. In addition to the judges’ verdict, a public vote was held to democratize the selection and bring art closer to the people.

Ignacio Concha was the winner of the Extrasolar 2023 Digital Art Competition, and honorable mentions went to the creative duo Rafaella Pagliettini and Ignacia García and the collective formed by Simón Jara and Daniel Reyes. Through a public vote of more than 12,000 people, the winner of the Public Vote Award was Felipe Solís, whose work Astros Soñados (Dreamy Stars) obtained more than 2,000 votes.

The winners received $5 million CLP for first place, $2 million CLP for the winner of the public vote and $1.5 million CLP each for the honorable mentions. 

Alfonso Díaz, Executive Director of Fundación Antenna, congratulated the winners and said that “I hope that this award will be a boost to their careers. Many of the applicants are young people and high school students with great talent and creative potential. We hope that Fundación Antenna will continue to help motivate more people to discover their artistic vein. This is our contribution to a more creative and innovative country.”

“Congratulations to the four winners of this first version of Extrasolar,” said Oscar Contreras, Vice President and representative of the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile. “It fills us with joy to know that science and astronomy are an engine of inspiration and creativity to the residents of Chile, allowing us to explore through our imagination. The Giant Magellan Telescope will allow us to explore the universe and, together with Extrasolar, also promote artistic creation in our country.”

Meet the Winners 

First Place

Ignacio Andrés Concha Navarrete (33 years old) with the video El Cementerio Espacial (Space Cemetery) (watch here).

Ignacio is an industrial civil engineer who loves technology and enjoys creating space video games together with a community of people.

His work invites us to reflect on the beauty of the unexplored Cosmos. It introduces us to an icy exoplanet that protects the memory of past souls in the form of fairies. These represent the generations that will pass on to make space exploration possible, seeking to awaken empathy and comprehension of the unknown. 

Public Vote and Young Talent Award Winner

Felipe Alonso Solís Álvarez (17 years old) with the video Astros Soñados (watch here).

Since he was a child, Felipe has been fascinated by art. At the age of 12 he started making 2D animations for YouTube, and at 16 he began playing with visual effects. 

In his work, he presents 3 exoplanets, inspired by the winds of HD 189733b and the rains of WASP-76B, and he shows what would happen if there was human interaction with these unknown worlds. 

Honorable Mention

Rafaella Pagliettini (16 years old) and Ignacia García (15 years old) with their work Trazando Sueños Cósmicos (Charting Cosmic Dreams) (watch here).

Rafaella has been interested in fantasy books, art and film since she was a child. She started making her video with a classmate for a school project. And she learned that they had been awarded honorable mention just after finishing a math test.

Made with stop motion and drawn by hand, their work is about the adventures of Robinson the robot, who follows a red balloon on a long journey that ends on an unknown exoplanet.

Honorable Mention

Agencia Colectiva, formed by Simón Jara (34 years old) and Daniel Reyes (43 years old) with their work Micelio A (Mycelium A) (watch here).

This artistic duo has been working together for 2 years. They have already presented their exhibit Extraña Dignidad (Strange Dignity) at the MAC Forestal this year.

The work Micelio A presents a fictional piece with Japanese aesthetics about an exoplanet where there are only mushrooms and stones, and where the day goes by so quickly that the shadows are constantly moving back and forth. These shadows give the impression that the mushrooms are “playing” with the stones, mounting one on top of the other and giving us true art installations or compositions.

The Extrasolar competition is sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). It is broadcast by NTV -TVN’s cultural channel-, Radio Concierto and Ladera Sur, with the collaboration of the Mirador Interactive Museum (MIM), the Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC) and the Museum of Visual Arts (MAVI).

About Fundación Antenna 

Since 2015, Fundación Antenna has been dedicated to bringing art and culture closer to the people in Chile. To this end, it carries out projects with organizations and companies that make a significant contribution to the community, such as Murales para Chile (Murals for Chile), where local muralists painted the walls of 10 schools in different regions, positively impacting more than 8,000 students. See more at www.antenna.cl 

About the Giant Magellan Telescope

The Giant Magellan Telescope is the future of space exploration from Earth. Using seven of the world’s largest mirrors, the 25.4-meter telescope will produce the most detailed images ever taken of our Universe. It will uncover the cosmic mysteries of dark matter, investigate the origins of chemical elements, and verify signs of life on distant planets for the first time. The Giant Magellan Telescope is the work of the GMTO Corporation, an international consortium of thirteen research institutions representing six countries. The telescope is under construction in Chile and anticipated to be completed in the late 2020s.

The Universe Awaits at giantmagellan.org.

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