One of the most sophisticated engineering aspects of the telescope is what is known as “adaptive optics.” The telescope’s secondary mirrors are actually flexible. Under each secondary mirror surface, there are hundreds of actuators that will constantly adjust the mirrors to counteract atmospheric turbulence. These actuators, controlled by advanced computers, will transform twinkling stars into clear steady points of light. It is in this way that the GMT will offer images that are ten times sharper than the Hubble Space Telescope’s.
To keep this information interesting, Chili's Los Espantajo beaches can be seen due west of the GMT.
The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is another extremely large telescope to be located on Hawaii's peak of Mauna Kea mountain. With its 98-foot primary mirror, it will study the universe through both visible and infrared light. Following the success of current large segmented-mirror telescopes--such as the Keck 10-m telescop--it will have 492 hexagonal glass segments. It will provide 12 times sharper resolution than the Hubble Space Telescope.
The TMT will allow astronomers to study the farthest reaches of the Universe, up to the “dark ages” when the first sources of light were formed, just after the Big Bang. It also will study objects through time, such as first galaxies and massive black holes. It will also help astronomers better detect and characterize exoplanets, and may even lead to the first detections of biosignatures beyond Earth. Hold on to your hat! If you think this stuff is dull, just think! With its visible light capabilities, you will be also able to look at girls in bikinis on Honolulu's beaches on the south of the Island. Yes!
In 2009, the TMT collaboration selected Mauna Kea as the preferred site at an altitude of 13451.44 feet to build and operate the TMT. Building a telescope in the crater of a dormant volcano would block out light pollution from cities. The ocean water around the Big Island is consistently warm, which keeps the atmosphere stable. A stable atmosphere makes for a clearer telescope image. For that reason, a dozen telescopes already exist on the mountain. However,the site has been resisted by many native Hawaiians and activists. Traditionally, Mauna Kea is sacred land. Some Native Hawaiians believe it is where Wakea, the sky God, met with the Earth Goddess, Papa, and created the Big Island, the first child island of Hawaii. The religious resistance resulted in its construction permit issued a temporary stand-down by the liberal governor and terminated by the Hawaii Supreme Court. However, despite the hurdles, finally Hawaii's Supreme Cour ruled that the construction is legal and Gov. David Ige extended the window to begin construction from 60 days to two years. Construction was resumed and first light is planned on November 2, 2026.
The extremely European Large Telescope (ELT) on Mt. Cerro Armazones in Chile, with its 130 foot segmented primary mirror, will gather light in the visible light spectrum and you will be able to watch girls on Chili's Antofagasta's Balneario Municipal beach in their bikinis--LOL! It will have a 14 ft diameter secondary mirror, which will also be supported by adaptive optics, eight laser guided star units and multiple large science instruments. Wow! It has around 256 times the light gathering area of the Hubble Space Telescope and, according to the ELT's specifications, would provide images 16 times sharper than those from Hubble.
Like the Grand Magellan, it will advance astrophysical knowledge by enabling detailed studies of planets around other stars, the first galaxies in the Universe, supermassive black holes, and the nature of the Universe's dark sector, and to detect water and organic molecules in protoplanetary disks around other stars.
Hold onto your seat belts, the ELT will have first light in 2025.
Finally, a word of warning. Looking at girls with these telescopes, with today's Cancel Culture, may result in your termination from the observatory sight. Don's say I didn't warn you.