ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for ELT dome and telescope structure

At a ceremony in Garching bei München, Germany on 25 May 2016, ESO signed the contract with the ACe Consortium, consisting of Astaldi, Cimolai and the nominated sub-contractor EIE Group for the dome and telescope structure of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). This is the largest contract ever awarded by ESO and the largest ever contract in ground-based astronomy. At this occasion the construction design of the ELT was unveiled.

This artist’s rendering of the ELT is based on the detailed construction design for the telescope.