Through ASIAA, Taiwan will join Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, South Korea, and the United States in building the world’s largest and most powerful telescope
PASADENA, Calif., Feb. 21, 2024 (Globe Newswire) — The Giant Magellan Telescope today welcomes Taiwan’s renowned research institution, the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA), to its international consortium. Ta. ASIAA’s participation expands the consortium to 14 international research institutions, highlighting the importance of the giant Magellan to the global astronomical community and the consortium’s commitment to prioritizing global collaboration for the advancement of science. Masu.
“We are very pleased to welcome ASIAA to our international consortium of distinguished partners,” said Dr. Walter Massey, Giant Magellan Telescope Board Chair. “Our consortium will combine scientific expertise and engineering acumen from around the world to launch projects that will benefit research in all areas related to space. This joint investment in the Giant Magellan Telescope will , proving that science can transcend boundaries and unite humanity forever.”
Taiwan’s astronomical research and instrument development capabilities are internationally recognized. ASIAA provides expertise in areas such as low-noise and compact detector electronics, precision detector characterization technology, and precision laser cutting technology. These contributions will prove invaluable once the telescope is operational in the early 2030s.
“ASIAA is pleased to be part of the Giant Magellan Telescope Consortium. Taiwan’s scientific community stands ready to contribute its expertise while benefiting from the wealth of knowledge within the consortium.” Director Dr. Ue Lee Peng said. Asia. “For Taiwanese astronomers, it has been a long-standing aspiration to participate in a 30-meter telescope, and Giant Magellan is considered the most suitable project for this goal.The collaboration between ASIAA and the Giant Magellan Telescope A strong foundation for astronomy research in Taiwan has been established, with special emphasis on training a new generation in this field. We also hope that this project will deepen cooperation between Taiwan and the other six countries of the consortium. I am.”
Construction of the telescope is progressing rapidly in Chile’s Atacama Desert and in research labs around the world. Over the past year, fabrication of the seventh and final primary mirror began in Arizona, and fabrication of the 39-meter-tall mounting structure began in Illinois. As for progress, in Germany he completed his first of seven mirror covers, and in France and Italy he almost completed the telescope’s first adaptive secondary mirror. Further advances were also made in a series of high-resolution imagers and spectrometers in Arizona, Australia, California, Massachusetts, South Korea, and Texas.
These optical technologies will allow Giant Magellan to have up to 10 times more resolution than the Hubble Space Telescope and up to 200 times more power than today’s best telescopes. This breakthrough technology will empower scientists around the world, providing unparalleled insight into the evolution of the universe, the origins of chemical elements, and the first discovery of life on a distant exoplanet.
The news that ASIAA has joined the international consortium for the Giant Magellan Telescope was celebrated by U.S. elected officials committed to scientific progress, democratic values, and international partnerships.
Mark Kelly, a U.S. senator from Arizona and former NASA astronaut, emphasized how scientific cooperation can strengthen international relations. “Arizona has long been a leader in astronomy and optical research, and thanks to important contributions from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, the Giant Magellan Telescope will lead the next generation of discoveries in astronomy,” said Senator Kerry. said. “We welcome new collaborators from Taiwan to the Giant Magellan Consortium and look forward to strengthening the Arizona-Taiwan relationship through our shared commitment to democracy, education, and innovation.”
Michael T. McCall, a Texas congressman and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also emphasized the importance of supporting large-scale international research initiatives. “We are pleased to have our friends in Taiwan join us in this important project that includes top research institutions like Texas A&M and the University of Texas,” said Congressman McCall. “The Giant Magellan Telescope will be a breakthrough observatory that will expand our knowledge of the universe and allow the United States to maintain its lead in ground-based optical and infrared astronomy.”
ASIAA supports Arizona State University, Astronomy Australia Ltd., Australian National University, Carnegie Institution for Science, Harvard University, Korea Institute of Astronomy and Space Sciences, São Paulo Research Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin, and Universities. The University of Arizona, the University of Chicago, and the Weizmann Institute of Science cooperated in the construction of the member Giant Magellan Telescope.
About the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica
Academia Sinica is Taiwan’s National Academy of Sciences, which receives funding from the Office of the President of Taiwan. The Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA) is one of Academia Sinica’s 32 institutes and centers and is Taiwan’s leading astronomy institute. ASIAA’s mission is to conduct fundamental and groundbreaking research in astrophysical theory, observation, and measurement. Research areas cover the formation and evolution of stellar and planetary systems, cosmology and galaxies, black holes and high-energy astrophysics, solar systems, and astrophysical techniques. ASIAA is located on the National Taiwan University campus in the heart of Taipei City and is a member of several international projects, providing its members with the opportunity to conduct observations and develop technology in world-leading facilities. ASIAA is a founding member of the East Asian Core Observatory Association (EACOA) and a member of the East Asian Astronomical Observatory (EAO). For more information, please visit asiaa.sinica.edu.tw.
About the Giant Magellan Telescope
The Giant Magellan Telescope is the future of space exploration from Earth. This 25.4 meter telescope, which he used with seven of the world’s largest mirrors, produces the most detailed images of the universe ever taken. It will uncover the cosmic mysteries of dark matter, investigate the origins of chemical elements, and test for the first time signs of life on distant planets. Giant Magellan is the work of GMTO Corporation, an international consortium of 14 research institutions representing Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States. The telescope is under construction in Chile and is expected to be completed in the early 2030s. The Universe Awaits™ giantmagellan.org.
media contact
ryan carabis
giant magellan telescope
Director of Communications and Outreach
Phone: +1-626-204-0554 | E: rkallabis@gmto.org
Meiying Chou
Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica
EPO project scientist
O: +886-2-2366-5415 | E: cmy@asiaa.sinica.edu.tw
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