The ELT compared to the Rosse telescope in Ireland

This artist's impression compares the ELT to the Rosse telescope in Ireland. For 70 years the Rosse six-foot telescope at Birr was the largest telescope on Earth and the first to identify the Whirlpool Galaxy. The ELT continues the record of Europe building the largest ground-based telescopes.

The design for the ELT shown here was published in 2016. (eso1617)