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arXiv · 2606.11253

The Era of Extremely Large Optical Telescopes II: The GMT and TMT

Priya Hasan
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Abstract

The advent of Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) ground-based optical and infrared observatories with primary mirrors exceeding 20m marks a transformative era in observational astronomy. This article explores the dawn of this new age, focusing on two of the next generation of optical/ infrared facilities: the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) and the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)\footnote{An accompanying paper by the author is on the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT).} We describe the key technological innovations enabling the construction of these ambitious observatories, notably, segmented mirror design, advanced adaptive optics (AO), and laser guide star systems. Collectively, these breakthroughs yield more than an order of magnitude increase in both light-gathering area and spatial resolution, delivering image sharpness that, for widefield observations, surpassing space-based telescopes. We shall also discuss the comparison of space and ground-based telescopes and highlight their individual strengths and why space telescopes are not the solution to the satellite interference to ground-based telescopes. Ground based telescopes will continue to always be leaders in astronomical observations.

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Priya Hasan. 2026-06-08. The Era of Extremely Large Optical Telescopes II: The GMT and TMT. https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.11253

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