Tests Start on Large Canary Island Scope
July 14, 2007
Astronomers on the Canary Islands have started running tests on a new telescope that will be one of the largest on Earth once it goes operational.
The Great Canary Telescope is parked on a 7,900-foot mountain peak and will be able to peek at some of the most-distant known objects in the universe.
The BBC said Saturday the Canary Islands device is one of the largest optical telescopes ever built. It will have a 34-foot mirror and a $179.1 million price tag.
Testing will be finished in about a year, completing a construction phase that lasted about seven years due to the challenging location.