The race to build a super-large ground telescope is likely down to two competitors
Summary
Ars Technica interviews GMT’s new president, Dan Jaffe, to provide an update on the Giant Magellan Telescope’s progress and challenges. The project, estimated around $2 billion and about halfway funded, has seven mirrors cast and ground has been broken at the site, with the European ELT advancing toward first light and competition from TMT ongoing. GMT emphasizes complementarity with other facilities and a public-private consortium approach, while noting recent consortium growth and the long path to scientific outcomes.