Today marks a major milestone in the construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT)! The first of seven primary mirror segments, which will make up the GMT’s 24.5 meter-diameter primary mirror, has been completed after three years of hard work. This segment is the largest of its kind ever created, consisting of 81 individual hexagonal pieces. Each hexagonal piece is made from a combination of borosilicate glass and ceramics to ensure its durability and accuracy. The entire mirror segment weighs an impressive 17 tons and is capable of collecting up to ten times more light than any other telescope in the world. With this first segment now complete, the GMT is one step closer to becoming the world’s most powerful telescope.

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source: Phys.org