ELT in progress

This is the first segment blank for mirror 1 (M1) of the ELT. Manufactured by SCHOTT, it was completed at the end of August 2018. M1 is the primary mirror of the ELT and, when completed, will be 39 metres in diameter and consist of 798 segments. The ELT is a revolutionary project that will allow astronomers to obtain images of larger planets and characterise their atmospheres, possibly enabling detection of biomarkers that could indicate life on other planets.