Achieving nanometer-level precision while constructing the world’s largest “eye in the sky”

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is constructing the world's largest optical telescope, the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), with a 40-meter diameter mirror system. Gerd Jakob of ESO outlines the ambitious project, which aims to revolutionize our understanding of the universe. Located in the Atacama Desert, the ELT will benefit from exceptional weather conditions, boasting 360 clear nights a year. This groundbreaking telescope features a complex arrangement of five mirrors, including a main 39-meter mirror composed of 798 segments, each requiring precision alignment to the nanometer. Jakob emphasizes the challenges and innovations in data management, global collaboration, and advanced cooling technologies essential for the telescope’s intricate instruments. The ELT represents a significant leap in astronomical research, promising unprecedented insights into cosmic phenomena such as black holes and potentially habitable exoplanets.

About the speaker

Gerd Jakob is Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department at European Southern Observatory (ESO). He has more than 30 years of experience in cryogenic cooled instrumentation for space and ground-based astronomical telescopes. ESO is currently constructing the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) in the central part of Chile's Atacama Desert. Once completed, it will be the largest optical/infrared telescope in the world. Jakob is overseeing the mechanical design of the telescope and is responsible for developing the instrumentation and cryogenic infrastructure.

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