Major NSF grant announced for the GMT project

A major NSF grant accelerates development for one of the world’s most powerful telescopes. The Giant Magellan Telescope is currently being constructed at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. With seven of the world’s largest mirrors ever constructed, each at 8.4 meters in diameter, the GMT will provide ten times better resolution than the Hubble Space Telescope.

AAL is delighted by the recent announcement of a US $17.5M grant, awarded to the GMTO Corporation by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The GMTO Corporation is the organisation responsible for the development and operation of the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) project, currently under construction at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.

When complete, the GMT will be one of three next-generation extremely large optical telescopes, with Australia being  approximately a 10% partner in the telescope. The GMT is designed to have a resolving power ten times greater than the Hubble Space Telescope, and will help to expand our knowledge of the universe.  

The GMTO has 12 founder institutions, including AAL and the Australian National University (ANU). For more information on the GMT project, see this link. For more on AAL’s role as a founding partner, please contact AAL’s CEO Mark McAuley, or AAL’s Chief Business Officer, ​Mita Brierley.

Related Posts

Australian astronomers get a clearer picture of the high energy universe via eROSITA’s first all-sky survey

The first all-sky survey by the x-ray imaging telescope eROSITA has been released, yielding the largest X-ray catalogue ever published. Along with the data, a...

AAL supports The Australian Academy of Science Ukraine-Australia Research Fund

AAL is one of many collaborating Australian facilities supporting the Australian Academy of Science Ukraine-Australia Research Fund.
ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT)

ESO Summer Research Programme 2024

The ESO Summer Research Programme is an unparalleled opportunity to engage with ESO scientists on a cutting-edge research project, join exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of ESO...