ELT groundbreaking crater

The aftermath of the ELT groundbreaking atop Cerro Armazones, following the blasting by ICAFAL Ingeniería y Construcción S.A. which loosened about 5000 cubic metres of rock and formed the crater shown. This was one of part of an elaborate levelling process which will help landscape the mountain, so that it can accommodate the 39-metre telescope and its huge dome. A grand total of 220 000 cubic metres will need to be removed to make room for the 150 metre by 300 metre ELT platform.