Giant Magellan Telescope - "A Perfect Mirror"

Dr. Wendy Freedman, former Chair, and Dr. Patrick McCarthy, former Director, discuss the Giant Magellan Telescope's mirrors and the science that they will enable.

[@UserMum7512]

I would love to work there. Even if I'd be mopping the floors knowing I'd help somehow it would be great!

[@kd1s]

Yeah I know - me too. It's quite the marvel of engineering too.

[@WolFresh]

Johan ousback I feel the same way man!

[@kd1s]

Very cool! Me, my mathematical abilities were always with me but now I'm exploring math topics I never knew existed.

[@roman2011]

You mob the floor, I'll clean the toilet. I'm sure scientist are like humans and need to shit too.

[@thurney4343]

It's a job I wouldn't mind having...just to be around this scope would be fantastic.

[@CamiloSanchez1979]

I would rather see millions of dollars invested in this instead of wars and weaponry that only creates more enemies

[@MichaelAChristian1]

+CamiloSanchez1979 Or neither and help thousands of people! I mean millions!

[@shoemaker3796]

CamiloSanchez1979 How about basic necessities like food and water for children starving to death.

[@dynastybural6007]

CamiloSanchez1979 yes I totally agree with you

[@zed1207]

I'd rather have the telescope.

[@vvmakovv2689]

shoe maker you can do both.

[@astrodug]

Who cares who's paying for it. The return on investment for science is far greater than anything else we as a society spend money on If the images and knowledge gained from this telescope infuences young people to become scientists and engineers instead of rap singers, and reality TV stars, then it is worth every penny and then some.

[@KipIngram]

Yes - the lack of respect for and pursuit of science and technology we have in our country these days is very sad.

[@VitalityJolt]

Taking a basic astronomy course in college has just opened my eyes about how important astronomy is. I think the amount of information we'll gather and discover from this is going to be amazing. Man wish I wasn't a senior or I'd change majors

[@AppalachianDrone]

Just following up. Secretly hoping you went back to school to follow your wishes.

[@deeliciousplum]

I am now covered in goosebumps! Thank you for sharing about this new telescope and for all the work that the people do at GMT.

[@kakarottomui]

*Giant Magellan Telescope* *European Extremely Large Telescope* *James Webb Space Telescope* *Thirty Meter Telescope* & many more What a great time to be alive for Astronomy & Astro lovers..!!! 😍😍

[@sidharthcs2110]

Sandesh Míñð Freâk Sawant There were plans for the "Overwhelmingly Large Telescope"

[@georgequalls5043]

The JWT seems to be a huge waste of money. Could have built several more Hubble’s instead.

[@alanwatts8239]

@@georgequalls5043 It's 100 times more powerful than a single Hubble. You wanna launch 100 Hubbles and not see it as a waste of money?

[@georgequalls5043]

@@alanwatts8239 since it is up and appears to be working so far, fine. But it still can fail and no way to fix it. Quiet frankly, I am happy it is up and working.

[@alanwatts8239]

@@georgequalls5043 It was made to last 10 years, no more. They will launch a more permanent, bigger version of it if it's mission proves to be a success.

[@btjans4022]

Spectacular! GMT team, Thanks for keeping dreams and passion alive & for reaching out to the beyond. Don't ever give up searching. Truly inspiring!

[@andrewlabat9963]

Just absolutely amazing, the engineering, the intellect is just, just uncomprehensible..

[@randymulder9105]

Brilliant. So many stars to see soon! Thank you! Mag and James will find something living!!! Please!

[@DustinHarms]

This is awesome, and deserves every bit of attention.

[@robertcook5201]

Impressive and well done

[@PeterDad60]

The Sky has always been my source of inspiration and wonderment.

[@Cici_Dial]

For, me it is the creator of the sky, Jesus.

[@robson9374]

Fantástico ansioso para ver em funcionamento Parabéns para todos do projeto

[@StarrDust0]

very exciting fun field, it just moves a bit slowly. I took it for granted as a kid, now I'm totally impressed by the science and hard work behind it.

[@donaldmackenzie2686]

The cosmos is our source, period. I think it's fantastic that there are great minds and groups of people who are trying to discover as much of our origin as possible. Incredible. Thank you all

[@jimmykelly2809]

It’s been 10 years since this came out. Beginning in January I will be making parts for this amazing telescope. My company has built the building and another building adjacent for one of the largest CNC machines in the world to make the structure. The structure will rotate the entire building that houses the mirrors. We will assemble it in house to test and finally disassemble it to ship out piece by piece. It should take approximately 6 years to complete but when done the dream will finally be realized.

[@KipIngram]

Astounding.

[@jimdigriz2923]

Stunning piece of engineering.

[@danielramirezcruz.2209]

Great video I love it thanks.. fantastic telescope...

[@labadjuju]

magnificent to say the least

[@mr.boomguy]

Science is what makes me excited for the future 😊

[@poly_hexamethyl]

1:25 That's an interesting mount. Are those rings glued to the back of the mirror? Is the mirror only supported by these, and not by the edges? I thought for a mirror that size and weight they would need some sort of active support system (either mechanical or computerized) to maintain the accuracy of the surface?

[@fbinsa5409]

If I was only smart enough to work on these projects 😞. Astronomy sounds so interesting

[@stephenjones8928]

You are smart. Smart enough to see beyond your finger tips and appreciate the world and universe around you. Keep asking questions and learning. Your wonder will enrich all of us by supporting these kinds of endeavours and will enrich yourself no matter where it takes you. You have a lot of friends on this page.

[@pounlak4768]

Very impressive

[@GH-oi2jf]

What is the thing at ground level that xtends past the edge of the mesa?

[@Justwantahover]

5:39 The truck (prime-mover) at the bottom right is about twice the scale size as it should be. The telescope mirror diam is 25 meters, or the length of a whole B-double truck. So the prime mover is way overscaled. The artist probably didn't know the official B-double truck length (in Australia, that is). If a B-double truck is the same length as the mirror diam, than the prime-mover at the bottom right should be a lot smaller.

[@richardhedd3080]

We humans can do absolutely amazing things when we decide to.

[@ObserverZero]

Wwhat track are they playing in the beginning and the end?

[@msbrunoyt]

So, how good are the adaptive optics? Do they completely negate the effects of the atmosphere, as if this telescope were in orbit?

[@AC-uf2ut]

hi can i use part of your video for my channel's trailer please?

[@electoplater]

is it in operation now may 2018

[@swinde]

When is or was first light on this beast?

[@erikhafer1415]

what happened to it, ? said to be finished by 2016 can't find any completed info on it.

[@Visterox]

amazing ;]

[@flyassqbn]

any updates on this telescope?

[@kwoason]

are GMT and JWST different?

[@itsover2255]

smooth or thin?

[@marktuyet]

In my next life I hope to be smart enough to be an astrophysicist . What a wonderful life it would be to be a part of this research .

[@rootz420]

is it done yet?

[@buck1936]

Awesome

[@curry4life10]

Just so true

[@pekahon]

Just a though... Is there benefit to install all those primary mirror elements in to the same mount structure? Why not build all as separate telescopes and then point them to the same target? That would allow lighter support structures...

[@GH-oi2jf]

That’s done with radio telescopes, probably because otherwise they would be much too large to be practical. For optical telescopes, I’m sure that using multiple mirrors in one structure is more cost-effective.

[@JavierMendoza-fu8gl]

bonito video

[@ShainAndrews]

Can somebody explain what is meant with the statements of fractions of a wavelength of light or 1/20th of a wavelength of light? I know we can see in the 400-700 nm range. Using the example of 650nm. Would it mean something like 650.05 nm?

[@photonjones5908]

no. it would be about 5000/20 nm or 250 one-billionths of a meter

[@photonjones5908]

Oops, I was thinking in angstroms. It would be 500 nm /20 - or 25 one-billionths of a meter (500 nm is our ideal dark-adapted peak sensitivity)

[@oguzhan9424]

We humans are sometimes so amazing... and the best part is that the best inventions still have to be invented.

[@rachm2236]

What I want to know is how much would it be to just experience this

[@suzukispider]

is this thing working now?

[@woody5109]

Side note on black holes, I build high ways all my life, I had some guy randomly ask me “why do you build hwys through the middle of cities” I looked at him and said “what makes you think the city was their before the hwy”?

[@moglijp]

they have recently put on work the MagAO (adaptative optics fot the magellan telescope), for the magellan 6.5m, search for it, in his light out could took the sharpest images ever (not even the hubble could take a picture like that) so I think the Adaptative Optics of the GMT will be as good or better than Magao.

[@jeffmint5472]

Id like to sit in front of this mirror and just... reflect!

[@GiantMagellanTelescope]

#throwbackthursday With the Giant Magellan Telescope one step closer to construction, here's a video that offers a quick glimpse to what GMT will be able to do once its up and running in 2020. GIANT MAGELLAN TELESCOPE - "A PERFECT MIRROR" #Telescope #GMTO #BigScience #Astronomy #Stargazers

[@marcoa.69]

Muchas gracias a seguirme, saludos desde Roma Cristiana.

[@dfpolitowski2]

Giant Magellan Telescope

[@RC_Engineering]

Hello, I am just curious. The telescope's mirrors are polished to within half a wavelength of light. And the secondary mirrors are positioned to within that tolerance as well. However, I am wondering how you counteract the sag of the boom holding the secondary mirrors, when the telescope is at an angle. Surely the weight of the metal and secondary mirrors is enough to bend the arm more than half a wavelength of light. I am just curious from an engineering perspective how that is counteracted.

[@alpal2002]

+Ryan C. Engineering they use actuators under the mirrors to correct for any anomaly - also the mirrors are accurate to better than 1/20th the wavelength of light not 1/2 wave.

[@mikebeacom4883]

Ryan C. Engineering I

[@michaelkbutler]

thye got a guy to stand on the roof, and pull a rope tied onto the truss!!!

[@brotherbroski387]

They better hurry. I'm really excited for the completion of this... They'll be able to find more exoplanets and perhaps venture at a look toward Gliese 581g.

[@jwarmstrong]

8/2019 two mirrors are finished & in a warehouse - 5 to go at 18 months each - so maybe 2030 if there are no potholes or tsunami to crack the glass.

[@jinxy72able]

I love astronomy and I'm so glad to see the next generation of telescopes being built. But I wish these agencies and organizations building them could have worked together and picked one location to build all three of these monster scopes. Imagine if the E-ELT (at 39 meters) the TMT (at 30 meters) and the GMT(at 25 meters) would have all been built in the same location, then they could have used interferometry to join the scopes together and had almost the light gathering power of the cancelled 100 meter OWL. Someone needs to invent a way to do interferometry over great distances so that even at their different locations they one day can be joined.

[@goldfinger1528]

+jinxy72able how about them being separated over 100's or even 1000's of miles; using the same (or similar) interferometry, get a ridiculously great collecting area of similar dimensions?

[@arifsimon]

First question how often they need to clean those glasses after installing? 2nd question how they going to clean those glasses after installing spot free? 3rd question is general people who paying tax to build it, are they gonna give any access to general people?

[@GiantMagellanTelescope]

Thank you for your questions. After installation, we will clean the mirrors twice per week using a spray of CO2 that will lift off the dust. This effectively removes most of the dust particles from the mirror surface. Once a year we will wash each mirror, and in alternate years we will strip off the coating and apply a fresh layer of aluminum. The GMT project is funded through its international consortium of twelve leading universities and science institutions. If the GMT project were to receive federal funding then astronomers from any US institution would be able to apply to use the telescope.

[@vincentmacapuro8940]

Here in the Philippines Magellan is considered more of as a villain for kickstarting a series of events that would lead to the colonization of our country.

[@nahbro104]

I dont mind paying taxes for this

[@brittaniistarzz8354]

Idk why but I always think about if I ever had a chance to look through a giant powerful telescope 🔭 I think I would be kinda scared in a way to actually see what’s really up there

[@otrondal]

Is it so difficult to make a correct image model of a black hole (4:17) ? This can be a great telescope, just try to avoid even the smallest mistakes.

[@michaeldeierhoi4096]

Yes it is difficult because black holes do not reflect light so consequently astronomers must look for a disturbance around it such as close orbiting stars or debris gradually being drawn into it.

[@jsmith3798]

in all honesty, what kind of person does it take to apparently watch this video for some reason (in their case) and then, as 44 people have done as of the day this comment was posted, give it a thumbs down? exactly what part of this marvel, this triumph of engineering and possibility, is not agreeable to you?

[@kri1612box50cal]

when are this telescope done?

[@rdallas81]

I think in 2018

[@Bobby-fj8mk]

I hope it works. I bet it will take years to sort out the gremlins.

[@robertmiller3155]

What a technical feat, I see why ASU had to step in and help U of A. Go Devils.

[@qubla2]

Are there Birds pooping on the Mirrors surface?

[@joebender3662]

Why do the mirrors have to be so thick?Why not a thin layer of glass on a titanium base which would be much lighter?

[@donaldbelobraydic9996]

That would be to easy. There's no money in easy.

[@MrsOliva]

Ребята, Вы Монстры.

[@ShizukoDaisuke]

Awesome!! Taburan bintang yg indah memukau setiap insan.. SubhanALLAH.. indahnya ciptaan Illahi.. ^^

[@saurabhkumarrao2000]

i really didn't get the significance or the meaning of the statement made by the lady in the start of the video

[@juremales4185]

it means it's frikkin smooth.

[@youtub-fj8mu]

Mirrors have tiny bumps on them. This one is way smoother

[@colinnewton5254]

Most astronomers will only be there for a few hours, get capture what they want and then go away to study their photo'. Although I suspect the won' even go there, they'l put in their request by email and then join a queue and get there results back in due course. You would be there all the time and then when something big came along you'd be one of the first to know. On top of that you might work you way to be technician operating the thing. WOW

[@Rezaroth]

I was just bragging about my 8" telescope with my friend. And now after watching this....

[@Markinpuff]

I have an 9.25 HD, so,there.

[@wazrasta]

Completion in 2025... WOW I can't wait to see what comes from this!

[@joshmnky]

MORE telescopes and MORE telescope per telescope!

[@user-pn9cy8qv7i]

- Hi I have questions about the system of the universe and the laws of thermodynamics . That space is within the universe . Question: Is there an area before the existence of the universe? second question : Where did this area come from? The third question : On the system of the universe in the laws of thermodynamics Is the system of the universe isolated, closed or open ??? Please send these three questions to cosmologists @@@@

[@SR009s]

1.) no one knows, but theories have been thought up that there are multiple universes etc (these are nothing but theories) 2.) again, no one on earth could ever know. 3.) I’m not sure so I won’t answer the question

[@alpal2002]

10 times the resolution of Hubble? I think they mean with adaptive optics & only looking at one tiny point not a whole large frame picture.

[@Bolinas1]

Imagine what humans could do if we spent the $2 trillion per year on weapons, and used that in Cosmology.

[@Brian.001]

Why do they all keep saying 'meers' instead of 'mirrors'?

[@nadahere]

All telescopes will be displaced by our low cost [$5MM], compact telescope with a broad field magnification from 10X to continent resolution/discernability at 100 light year distance. Similar performance on the obverse side with table top sized microscopes where even the interior of the nucleus will be viewable. Path to atomic scale electronics manufacturing with real time defect removal for perfect outcomes each and every time..

[@shivnaryan9620]

Wooow can the public allowed inside?

[@40Kens]

Just a Summary and Review. Looking forward to it, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Magellan_Telescope en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptive_optics

[@theEricWalker]

the fact that there is a mirror on the moon that we bounce a laser off of to measure the distance from the moon to the earth isn't proof enough that we've been to the moon?

[@chrisrubel6092]

Wendy Freedman is a marvel. Chris Rubel

[@AsratMengesha]

Obscuring Green which mean time.

[@ugn669]

That's exactly the same thought as I had... this is why humans are awesome, even though we're still a plague

[@mirkywater8635]

It’s a shame it has to deal with the atmosphere. Elon should ship this thing to space.

[@waynefrench9314]

This is our destiny to set out to the Star's. We now need to create a Starship. We have the technology. So let's go where no man has gone before. Beam me up Scotty. Can you imagine the star's that we use to look at. Will be so much closer now, and the planets. It's almost like opening the doors to the Universe. 😳

[@mistycloud4455]

WW3 is near

[@aelyn355]

wait... if the telescope is on the earth, isnt't there the earth's atmosphere that will get in the way of the telescope?

[@attilathenun]

Hi from 2018. And we still have people who believe Earth is flat.

[@pumpuppthevolume]

completion in 2020 :\ so the biggest mirror right now is 10.4m and this has seven 8.4m segments.....damn

[@terryantony8531]

I have hope and faith the day will come when they achieve approximately 400/402meters which I think is 1/4mile lol

[@billsey49]

Is that mirror or mere?

[@rameezramses6633]

This will be more useful for scientific researches...

[@skywatcherca]

WHY, is there not more research and use of PHOTON multipliers?

[@starview1]

Mirrors are made in Arizona

[@KJC63]

8 years and running, and its still not up and running.

[@dhruvjoshi494]

who is the legend seeing in 2021

[@ZeroControl]

Do you hear they admit , we dont know whats out there ? but we can look at stuff better than ever , and we, still dont know whats out there ? Hmm makes you wonder about what they truly see ..

[@michaeldeierhoi4096]

If you actually studied the basics of astronomy and what IS known then it would start to make sense to you.

[@ZeroControl]

@@michaeldeierhoi4096 Nothing makes sense when you study somethings : landbeforetime.home.blog/

[@94fleetwood49]

OMG I hate the unchecked "Military" budget!! Yet our governments are careful not to spend a mere 500-700 million dollar project?

[@MrSnivelupagus]

This telescope needs to be built on the moon. The mirrors would be 1/6th lighter, and the lack of atmosphere would make for perfect photographs.

[@thephilosopher7173]

It would be super expensive considering how many people you'd need to educate/train, how much material needs to be transported / how many trips need to be made, and how much time it would take. But imo you're absolutely right!

[@pekahon]

Maybe someday, when Elon makes cheaper rockets. The telescope mirrors need to be grinded and polished on the moon by robots. At least there is enough dust for grinding...

[@GH-oi2jf]

Good idea. You do that.

[@soldtobediers]

3:40 Does earth plug a hole in heaven Or heaven plug a hole in earth How wonderful to be so profound When everything you are Is dying underground ~Peter Gabriel