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UK commits ?88m to the world's largest telescope

The UK is to invest ?88m in the construction of the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), which will be the world?s biggest optical stargazing facility.

Several British institutions are already contributing to the development of optics and instruments for E-ELT, which is scheduled for completion in Mount Cerro Armazones in Chile. in 2013.

E-ELT will be housed inside a structure the size of Wembley stadium, with a 39m-wide primary mirror (made up from almost 800 1.4m-wide hexagonal sections) collecting 15 times more light than any existing optical telescope.

Intended to investigate visible and infra-red light wavelengths from deeper into the universe than humanity has been able to look before, the telescope will investigate planets orbiting other stars and is hoped to be able to image some of the oldest stars and galaxies in the sky, helping to explain the origin and evolution of the universe.

The project will cost a total of ?1.1bn and is a collaboration between 14 countries. The UK?s contribution, over 10 years, is in addition to its ?18m a year subscription to the European Southern Observatory (ESO) organisation, which oversees the European telescopes in Chile.

Contracts associated with building the telescope worth some ?9m have already been placed within the UK, and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills expects this to rise to some ?90m or higher by the end of the project.

?This significant investment reaffirms the government?s commitment to cutting-edge science,? said science minister David Willetts in a statement. ?It will ensure the UK plays a leading role in a ground-breaking international research project and our world-class research base has access to the latest equipment.?

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[neoadorable]

well done, and this is definitely...looking up!