Thirty Meter Telescope will see what the Hubble has left blurry

Based on the ground itself, the Thirty Meter Telescope in the making will be lined in to produce the best images possible to revolutionize the study of the universe, adding a deeper level of understanding with the more detailed imagery. The gigantic telescope featuring a primary mirror almost the size of a whale will be completed by 2018. The telescope is touted to have 12 times better resolution than the Hubble, which means what the Hubble telescope hasn’t shown from space the TMT may just show that from the ground.

thirty meter telescope

The scientists behind the Thirty Meter Telescope believe that once put into commission atop the volcanic dome of Mauna Kea in Hawaii, the telescope will aid the astronomers in seeing objects that remain blurred in the Hubble Deep Field, more clearly than have been seen before. The telescope could assist in imaging direct light routinely to understand planets orbiting stars outside our solar system, besides a look into the both dark matter and dark energy.

tmt

The TMT being built for an estimated cost of $970 million manages to see into deep space courtesy the adaptive optics system which has been embedded into the telescope. If believed, the TMT could see back in time – "all the way back to the formation of the first stars and galaxies that followed the universe’s Dark Ages."

The discoveries we’re going to make from TMT will simply increase our thirst for even bigger telescopes with even greater capabilities. So as long as we retain our curiosity and have the wealth to build these kinds of things, I think we’re going to see bigger things.

Jerry Nelson, UC Santa Cruz physicist and TMT project scientist said.

Via: WiredScience