"25 Years of Innovation: The Rise of Mega-Telescopes"

Over the past 25 years, advancements in lightweight mirror technology and segmented mirrors have led to the construction of mega-telescopes, significantly enhancing our ability to explore the universe. These telescopes, such as the Keck Observatory and the Very Large Telescope, have enabled groundbreaking discoveries, including the confirmation of a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way and the first direct image of an exoplanet. Future projects like the Extremely Large Telescope aim to further our understanding, although challenges such as climate change and satellite constellations pose potential threats to ground-based astronomy.