Giant Magellan Telescope Commences Final Mirror Production
The Giant Magellan Telescope has begun the process of fabricating and polishing its seventh and final primary mirror, which will complete the telescope's 368 square meter light collecting surface. The telescope's mirrors will collect more light than any other telescope, enabling detailed chemical analyses of celestial objects and their origins. The recently completed primary mirror will undergo optical performance testing before being integrated into the telescope's support system. Once assembled, the seven mirrors will function as one monolithic mirror, providing up to 200 times the sensitivity and four times the image resolution of current space telescopes. The telescope is expected to see first light by the end of the decade and will help answer questions about the origins of the universe and the existence of extraterrestrial life.