Imagine a telescope so powerful it could peer into the atmospheres of distant exoplanets, watch galaxies being born, and reveal cosmic secrets from the dawn of time. That’s the dream of the TMT – Thirty Meter Telescope.
With a mirror almost three times bigger than today’s largest optical telescopes, the TMT would be one of the most ambitious scientific instruments ever built. It will use cutting-edge adaptive optics to deliver crystal-clear views of the universe, sharper than even the Hubble Space Telescope.
🌍 Where will it go?
The original plan was Hawaii’s sacred Mauna Kea — but delays and cultural opposition have kept the project on hold. That opened the door for Spain. And not just any site: the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma, already home to the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), the current largest single-aperture optical telescope in the world.
💶 Spain’s bold move
Spain has officially put €400 million on the table to host the TMT. If chosen, Spain would secure around 10% of observing time — a massive win for our astronomers and for Europe.
🚀 Why does it matter?
Spain is following the course it already set:
– Hosting the GTC in La Palma — the world’s largest optical telescope.
– Hosting the Calar Alto Observatory in Almería — the biggest mainland observatory in Europe.
– Building a reputation as one of the most important astronomical nations on Earth.
– Spain would become the only country hosting two of the world’s largest telescopes — the GTC and potentially the TMT.
– It would put Spanish science on the front line of discoveries about galaxies, black holes, and other worlds.
– And it’s also about pride: showing that Spain is not just a host, but a true protagonist in global astronomy.
Just imagine saying: “The world’s biggest eye on the universe is right here in Spain.”
From the crystal-clear skies of La Palma to the mountains of Almería, Spain is proving again and again that it’s not just a place for astronomy — it’s a leader, looking deeper, further, and bolder into the cosmos.
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