This mirror will stabilise the images of the Extremely Large Telescope | ELT Updates

With a 39-metre primary mirror, ESO's Extremely Large Telescope will have five mirrors in total. Two of them — M4 and M5 — will work together to cancel out atmospheric turbulence and vibrations due to wind and the telescope's mechanisms.

We are now testing the sophisticated cell that will support the M5. This mirror will have to tip and tilt 10 times per second while remaining perfectly flat and rigid – a technological challenge, as the mirror weighs 500 kg!

Discover more about ESO’s ELT at: https://elt.eso.org/

Watch our ELT playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSZ2Jv0bEZHy7el0mIrOMRKkhCw8pemaZ

Credit:

ESO
Directed by: Angelos Tsaousis 
Editing: Angelos Tsaousis
Web and technical support: Gurvan Bazin and Raquel Yumi Shida 
Written by: Bárbara Ferreira
Footage and photos: ESO, L. Calçada,  A. Tsaousis, M. Kornmesser, J. Porte, B. Speet , F. Kamphues, J. C. Muñoz-Mateos, Sener.
Music: Jon Kennedy – Blow keys.
Acknowledgements: Sener.

About the Video

Id:eltu-M5cell
Release date:24 January 2025, 11:00
Duration:59 s
Frame rate:25 fps

About the Object

Name:Extremely Large Telescope
Type:Unspecified : Technology : Observatory
Category:ELT

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