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Australia’s Path to a Giant Telescope: ELT Projects and Collaboration Insights

This document outlines Australia’s engagement with major ELT (Extremely Large Telescope) projects, including the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), and the European Large Telescope (OWL). It discusses the science goals, technological innovations, and potential contributions from Australian institutions. The Australian ELT Roadmap aims for a significant role in these international collaborations, focusing on joint projects, technology development, and unique advantages of location for astronomical research. Key points about costs, partnerships, and potential benefits for Australia are also covered.

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Australia’s Path to a Giant Telescope: ELT Projects and Collaboration Insights

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  1. Australia’s Path to a Giant Telescope Matthew Colless MNRF Symposium 7 June 2003

  2. International ELT projects • Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) • GMT (20m) = US private consortium • Carnegie, Harvard, SAO, Arizona, MIT, Michigan, Texas • Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) • TMT (30m) = CELT (US priv.) + GSMT (US pub.) + VLOT (Can.) • Caltech, U.California, NOAO, AURA, ACURA • European Large Telescope (OWL) • OWL (100m) = OverWhelmingly Large telescope • ESO, Opticon (most European countries)

  3. Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT)

  4. Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)

  5. The European Large Telescope (OWL)

  6. ELT science scope = most of astronomy • Dark matter and dark energy • First light and reionization • Galaxy assembly at high-redshift • Growth of black holes • Chemical evolution of stars & galaxies • Origin of stellar masses • Uniqueness of our solar system • Formation of habitable worlds SERENDIPITY!

  7. Mapping science goals to telescope design Stellar Populations in Galaxies Characterizing Exoplanets 0 The Birth of Planetary Systems The Birth of Galaxies: The Birth of Large Scale Structure

  8. Essential capabilities for ELT science

  9. ELT technical capabilities science gains

  10. Technology developments needed

  11. Australia’s ELT Roadmap • The Australian ELT Working Group has produced an ELT Roadmap with three main strands… • Smart buyers… Which ELT? Science, technology, share, access, etc. • Technology leaders… Developing Australian technology for ELTs • Antarctic advantage… The best telescope on earth should be at the best site on earth • The Roadmap is available on the web at… http://www.aao.gov.au/instrum/ELT/

  12. GMT - a focus for Australian ELT effort • Australia’s goal is 10-20% of an ELT • Open to participating in any of the ELT projects • Keeping in close contact with all three • However, to provide a real focus for Australian ELT effort, the ELT WG is opening collaboration with the GMT project • This is not yet partnership (Australia has ‘observer’ status)

  13. Ten reasons Australia should join GMT • World-leading science (mostly common to other ELTs) • Balance between technical risk and science opportunity • Low cost for large share (‘second to none’) • Early entry leads to more influence and greater benefits • Technology development leading to knowledge transfer • Education & training - links to leading US institutions • Flexible funding model - some choice in how, when, what • Southern location offers synergy with AU facilities & SKA • Interest in 2nd-generation Antarctic ELT • Genuine partnership based on mutual interests & regard

  14. GMT cost estimates • The estimated costs for the 20m GMT are… • Design ~ US$50M • Construction ~ US$450M • Operation ~ US$20M/year • For comparison… • TMT is estimated to be ~50% higher (US$750M) • OWL is estimated to cost €1200M to construct

  15. GMT schedule  first light ~2018

  16. Initial Australian collaborations with GMT • Currently: joint involvement by ANU/AAO/UNSW staff in concept design of visible multi-object spectrograph for GMT • Proposed for 2006 (funding sought via LIEF): • Further design study of VISMOS (OCIW/AAO/ANU) • Study of mirror phasing techniques (Arizona/ANU) • Wind flow studies of telescope & enclosure (commercial engineering consultants - Sinclair Knight Merz) • Australian contribution valued at ~AU$600k • Seek to credit this contribution to future GMT partner share, with approval of GMT Council

  17. The MNRF contribution • MNRF is funding the Australian ELT effort by providing funding for… • the Australian ELT Project Scientist: • Prof. Warrick Couch (UNSW, 0.3 FTE) • a Deputy Project Scientist: • Dr Charles Jenkins (RSAA, 0.2 FTE) • travel support for these roles • The funding amounts to $140k p.a. for period 2005-2007

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