List of largest optical reflecting telescopes



The world's largest optical reflecting telescopes with an aperture diameter of larger than 8 meters (hover with mouse over image).

Legend:
GTC · Keck · Subaru
HET · LBT · VLT
SALT · Gemini (N) · Gemini (S)

This list of the largest optical reflecting telescopes with objective diameters of 3.0 metres (120 in) or greater is sorted by aperture, which is one limit on the light-gathering power and resolution of a reflecting telescope's optical assembly. The mirrors themselves can be larger than the aperture, and telescopes may use aperture synthesis achieved by interferometry. Telescopes designed to be used as optical astronomical interferometers such as the Keck I and II used together as the Keck Interferometer (up to 85 m) can reach very high resolutions, although at a narrower range of observations. When the two mirrors are on one mount, the combined mirror spacing of the Large Binocular Telescope (22.8 m) allows fuller use of the aperture synthesis.

Largest does not always equate to being the best telescopes, and overall light gathering power of the optical system can be a poor measure of a telescope's performance. Space-based telescopes, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, take advantage of being above the Earth's atmosphere to reach higher resolution and greater light gathering through longer exposure time. Location in the northern or southern hemisphere of the Earth can also limit what part of the sky can be observed.

Table of reflecting telescopes

This list is ordered by optical aperture, which has historically been a useful gauge of limiting resolution, optical area, physical size, and cost. Multiple mirror telescopes that are on the same mount, may have a working beam combiner, and can form an image may be ranked by an equivalent aperture to this reported by sources. HET-style or fixed telescopes are ranked by an equivalent aperture also.

Reflecting telescopes
NameImageEffective apertureMirror typeNationality / SponsorsSiteBuilt
Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC)10.4 m (409 in)Segmented, 36Spain (90%), Mexico, USARoque de los Muchachos Obs., Canary Islands, Spain2006/9
Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET)
11 m × 9.8 m mirror		10 m (394 in) [1]Segmented, 91USA, GermanyMcDonald Observatory, Texas, USA1997
Keck 110 m (394 in)Segmented, 36USAMauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA1993
Keck 210 m (394 in)Segmented, 36USAMauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA1996
Southern African Large Telescope (SALT)
11 m × 9.8 m mirror[2]		9.2 m (362 in)Segmented, 91South Africa, USA, UK, Germany, Poland, New ZealandSouth African Astronomical Obs., Northern Cape, South Africa2005
Large Binocular Telescope (LBT)
Phased-array optics for combined 11.9 m[3]		8.4 m (331 in) × 2Multiple mirror, 2USA, Italy, GermanyMount Graham International Observatory, Arizona, USA2004
Subaru (JNLT)8.2 m (323 in)SingleJapanMauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA1999
VLT UT1 – Antu8.2 m (323 in)SingleESO Countries, ChileParanal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile1998
VLT UT2 – Kueyen8.2 m (323 in)SingleESO Countries, ChileParanal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile1999
VLT UT3 – Melipal8.2 m (323 in)SingleESO Countries, ChileParanal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile2000
VLT UT4 – Yepun8.2 m (323 in)SingleESO Countries, ChileParanal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile2001
Gemini North (Gillett)8.1 m (319 in)SingleUSA, UK, Canada, Chile, Australia, Argentina, BrazilMauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA1999
Gemini South8.1 m (319 in)SingleUSA, UK, Canada, Chile, Australia, Argentina, BrazilCerro Pachón (CTIO), Coquimbo Region, Chile2001
MMT (1 x 6.5 m)6.5 m (256 in)SingleUSAF. L. Whipple Obs., Arizona, USA2000
Magellan 1 (Walter Baade)[4]6.5 m (256 in)HoneycombUSALas Campanas Obs., Atacama Region, Chile2000
Magellan 2 (Landon Clay)6.5 m (256 in)HoneycombUSALas Campanas Obs., Atacama Region, Chile2002
BTA-66 m (236 in)SingleUSSR/RussiaSpecial Astrophysical Obs., Karachay–Cherkessia, Russia1975
Large Zenith Telescope (LZT)6 m (236 in)LiquidCanada, France, United States [5]Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada2003
Hale Telescope (200 inch)5.08 m (200 in)SingleUSAPalomar Observatory, California, USA1948
LAMOST (6.67 m × 6.05 m + 5.72 m × 4.40 m corrector; effective aperture 3.6–4.9 m)4.9 m (193 in) [6]Segmented
(37 + 24)[7]		PRC (China)Beijing Astronomical Obs., Xinglong, China2008
MMT (original optics: 6 × 1.8 m)
→see above for current 6.5 m mirror		4.7 m (185 in)
(6×1.8 m) [8]		Segmented, 6USAF. L. Whipple Obs., Arizona, USA1979–1998
Discovery Channel Telescope[9]4.3 m (169 in)SingleUSALowell Observatory, Happy Jack, Arizona, USA2012
William Herschel Telescope4.2 m (165 in)SingleUK, Netherlands, SpainRoque de los Muchachos Obs., Canary Islands, Spain1987
SOAR4.1 m (161 in)SingleUSA, BrazilCerro Pachón (CTIO), Coquimbo Region, Chile2002
VISTA4.1 m (161 in)SingleESO Countries, ChileParanal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile2009
Victor M. Blanco Telescope4 m (157 in)SingleUSACerro Tololo Inter-American Obs., Coquimbo Region, Chile1976
Nicholas U. Mayall 4 m[10]4 m (157 in)SingleUSAKitt Peak National Obs., Arizona, USA1973
Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT)3.89 m (153 in)SingleAustralia, UKAustralian Astronomical Obs., New South Wales, Australia1974
3.67 m AEOS Telescope (AEOS)3.67 m (144 in)SingleUSAAir Force Maui Optical Station, Hawaii, USA1996
3.6 m Devasthal Optical Telescope[11] (DOT)3.6 m (142 in)SingleIndiaARIES Devasthal Observatory, Nainital, India2016
Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG)3.58 m (141 in)SingleItalyRoque de los Muchachos Obs., Canary Islands, Spain1997
New Technology Telescope (NTT)3.58 m (141 in)SingleESO countriesLa Silla Observatory, Coquimbo Region, Chile1989
Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT)3.58 m (141 in)SingleCanada, France, USAMauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA1979
ESO 3.6 m Telescope3.57 m (141 in)SingleESO countriesLa Silla Observatory, Coquimbo Region, Chile1977
MPI-CAHA 3.5 m[12]3.5 m (138 in)SingleWest Germany, SpainCalar Alto Obs., Almería, Spain1984
USAF Starfire 3.5 m [13]3.5 m (138 in)SingleUSAStarfire Optical Range, New Mexico, USA1994
WIYN Telescope3.5 m (138 in)SingleUSAKitt Peak National Obs., Arizona, USA1994
Space Surveillance Telescope3.5 m (138 in)SingleUSAWhite Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, USA2011
Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC)3.48 m (137 in)SingleUSAApache Point Obs., New Mexico, USA1994
Shane Telescope3.05 m (120 in)SingleUSALick Observatory, California, USA1959
NASA Infrared Telescope Facility3.0 m (118 in)SingleUSAMauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii, USA1979
NASA-LMT
→retired, private[14]		3 m (118 in)LiquidUSANASA Orbital Debris Obs., New Mexico, USA1995–2002
For continuation of this list, see List of large optical reflecting telescopes

There are only a few sites capable of polishing the mirrors for these telescopes. SAGEM in France polished the four VLT mirrors, the two Gemini mirrors, and the 36 segments for GTC.[15] The Steward Observatory Mirror Lab cast and polished the two LBT mirrors, the two Magellan mirrors and the MMT replacement mirror. It is currently making the LSST primary mirror and the mirrors for the Giant Magellan Telescope.[16] The Keck segments were made by Schott AG. The SALT and LAMOST segments were cast and polished by LZOS.[17] The mirror for Subaru was cast by Corning and polished at Contraves Brashear Systems in Pennsylvania.[18]

This table does not include all the largest mirrors manufactured. The Steward Observatory Mirror Lab produced the 6.5-metre f/1.25 collimator used in the Large Optical Test and Integration Site of Lockheed Martin, used for vacuum optical testing of other telescopes.

Segmented mirrors are also referred to as mosaic mirrors. Single mirrors are also referred to monolithic mirrors, and can be sub-categorized in types, such as solid or honeycomb.

Comparison of nominal sizes of apertures of some notable optical telescopes
For the largest reflecting telescopes on the planet, the horizontal indicates the year built and the vertical direction indicates the size of the mirror measured in meters. Countries which contain several of these telescopes are color-coded for identification.

Chronological list of largest telescopes

These telescopes were the largest in the world at the time of their construction.

Reflecting telescopes (chronologically)
Years LargestNameOutInAperture (m)Area (m2)M1 MirrorNoteAltitude (m)
2009–PresentGran Telescopio Canarias10.47436 × 1.9 m hexagons M1 mirrorSegmented mirror2267
1993–2009Keck 11076 [19]36 × 1.8 m hexagons M1 mirrorSegmented mirror, M1 f/1.754145
1976–1993BTA-6626605 cm f/4 M1 mirrorMirror replaced twice2070
1948–1976Hale (200 inch)5.1–508 cm f/3.3 M1 mirrorArt deco dome1713
1917–1948Hooker (100 inch)2.54–Also used for 1st optical interferometer1742

For earlier top telescopes see List of largest optical telescopes historically

Future telescopes

Sketch of the Messier 51 by William Parsons in 1845, later known as the Whirlpool Galaxy
Whirlpool Galaxy (M51A/B or NGC 5194/5) by NASA/ESA from Hubble Space Telescope in 2005

Below are selected telescopes that are still in the conceptual/proposed stage or still under construction.

Under construction or planned construction

Proposed

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Upgraded Hobby-Eberly Telescope Sees First Light | McDonald Observatory". mcdonaldobservatory.org. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  2. ↑ "Howstuffworks "10 Amazing Telescopes"". Science.howstuffworks.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  3. ↑ SPIE 2006 in Orlando - Proceedings of SPIE conference 6267 on “Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes”, "The Large Binocular Telescope", John M. Hill, Richard F. Green and James H. Slagle
  4. ↑ "The Carnegie Observatories – Magellan Telescopes". Carnegie Institution for Science. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  5. ↑ The Telescope, By Geoff Andersen, Page 165
  6. ↑ Archived July 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ "LAMOST Homepage – Gallery". Lamost.org. August 13, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  8. ↑ Dwayne DayMonday, May 11, 2009 (2009-05-11). "Mirrors in the dark". The Space Review. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  9. ↑ Lowell Observatory - 4.3-meter DCT
  10. ↑ "The Mayall 4-Meter Telescope". Noao.edu. February 27, 1973. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  11. ↑ Sagar, Ram; Brijesh Kumar; Amitesh Omar; A. K. Pandey (2012). "New optical telescope projects at Devasthal Observatory". Proceedings of the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. 8444. arXiv:1304.2474. Bibcode:2012SPIE.8444E..1TS. doi:10.1117/12.925634.
  12. ↑ "Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie". Mpia.de. July 20, 1994. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  13. ↑ John Pike. "Starfire". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  14. ↑ "NASA Orbital Debris Observatory". Astro.ubc.ca. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Polissage Optique pour les Grands Instruments de la Physique et de l 'Astronomie" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-26.
  16. ↑ "Mirror Castings". Steward Observatory Mirror Lab.
  17. ↑ "Large Optics Manufacturing in Large Optics Manufacturing in Lytkarino Optical Glass Factory, Russia" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-26.
  18. ↑ "SUBARU Telescope 8.3m Primary Mirror Finished".
  19. ↑ "Keck Telescope Facts". Spacecraftkits.com. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  20. ↑ "Groundbreaking for the E-ELT (eso1419 — Organisation Release)". ESO. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  21. ↑ Stewart, Burnett, Colin M., John (October 14, 2016). "Hawaii Supreme Court voids Thirty Meter Telescope permit". Oahu Publications. West Hawaii Today. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  22. ↑ "GMT – Overview". Gmto.org. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  23. ↑ Amos, Jonathan (12 November 2015). "Giant Magellan Telescope: Super-scope project breaks ground". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
  24. ↑ "NASA Completes Webb Telescope Review, Commits to Launch in Early 2021". NASA. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  25. ↑ "International Liquid Mirror Telescope – Extragalactic Astrophysics and Space Observations". Aeos.ulg.ac.be. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  26. ↑ Universities in U.S. and Mexico Partner on Telescope Project. Arizona Public Media, 13 November 2017.
  27. ↑ "Introduction to the Chinese Giant Solar Telescope" (PDF).
  28. ↑ Staff (29 August 2012). "China Exclusive: Scientists looking for site for giant solar telescope". Retrieved 8 December 2014.

Further reading

  • "The Astronomical Scrapbook", Joseph Ashbrook, Sky Publishing Corporation 1984, ISBN 0-933346-24-7, o
  • "Giant Telescopes of the World", Sky and Telescope, August 2000.
  • "The History of the Telescope", Henry C. King. (1955)
  • "The Historical Growth of Telescope Aperture", René Racine, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 116
  • JRASC (1929) vol 23, p351
  • Sky&Telescope (April 1981) p303
  • Sky&Telescope (July 1993) vol 86, p 27-32
  • James H. Burge, 1993 Dissertation at UA, "Advanced Techniques for Measuring Primary Mirrors for Astronomical Telescopes"
  • Bell, R.M. and Robins, G.C. and Eugeni, C. and Cuzner, G. and Hutchison, S.B. and Baily, S.H. and Ceurden, B. and Hagen, J. and Kenagy, K. and Martin, H.M. and Tuell, M. and Ward, M. and West, S.C. (July 2008). "LOTIS at completion of Collimator integration". Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) Conference Series. 7017. Bibcode:2008SPIE.7017E..0DB. doi:10.1117/12.791889.
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