Thirty Metre Telescope considers move from Hawaii to Spain | Science News

India is a founder member partner of the Thirty Metre Telescope planned for construction on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, which is facing local opposition. The Spanish Ministry of Science has offered a site for construction of the instrument in La Palma, Spain.

Rendering of the Thirty Metre Telescope. (Image Credit: TIO LLC).

New Delhi: The Thirty Metre Telescope International Observatory (TIO LLC) is an international collaboration between Canada, Japan, China, India and USA, which was being constructed at Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Larsen & Toubro is building components for the telescope, with a number of academic institutions working on the project. Work on the telescope has been halted because of opposition from the locals. TIO LLC has now announced that it is considering moving the observatory to Spain in response to an offer from the Spanish Ministry of Science. The TIO LLC will work closely with the Spanish Ministry of Science and academic institutes in Spain towards building the observatory in La Palma.

The members of the TIO LLC are also continuing discussions regarding the present site, which means that it is possible that the construction may continue at the present site in Hawaii after all. Last year, Abhay Karandikar, the Secretary to the Department of Science and Technology (DST) led an Indian delegation to Hawaii to discuss further options for the TIO, the funding situation, the start of civil construction, and the expected timelines. The TIO is working closely with the native population for decision-making, with the locals taking over management of the site, and the promise that the TIO will be the last observatory to be constructed on the dormant shield volcano that already hosts 13 telescopes.

Thirty Metre Telescope will uncover the secrets of universe

The Thirty Metre Telescope along with the Giant Magellan Telescope and the Extremely Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory represent the future of ground-based astronomical instruments. The alternative site in the Canary Islands has been considered since 2016. Indian scientists also conducted a study on hosting the telescope at Hanle in Ladakh, and determined that Hanle has less advantageous characteristics for a mega telescope in comparison to the alternative sites.

Aditya has studied journalism, multimedia technologies and ᚨᚾᚲᛁᛖᚾᛏ ᚱᚢᚾᛖᛋ. He has over 10 years experience as a science and technology reporter, with a focus on space, AI, videogames, cybsersecurity and fundamental research. He is usually found playing with age inappropriate LEGO sets or sedentary games both new and old.

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