Revolutionizing Our Knowledge of the Universe
Giant Magellan Telescope is the work of the GMTO Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and international research consortium headquartered in Pasadena, California with offices in Santiago, Chile. Our mission is to design, build, and operate the Giant Magellan Telescope to enable cutting-edge research and scientific observations that will revolutionize humanity’s fundamental understanding of the Universe. The 30-meter-class telescope is under construction at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the best locations on Earth to explore the heavens. When complete in the early 2030s, the “extremely large telescope” will be the largest public-private funded science project in history.
The Universe Awaits™
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A rendered bird's eye view of the Giant Magellan Telescope on Las Campanas Peak in Chile's Atacama desert during daylight.
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The Giant Magellan Telescope is led by a consortium of universities and research institutions from the United States, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, South Korea, and Taiwan.
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History
The initial concept for the Giant Magellan Telescope grew from a series of discussions between Carnegie Science, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Smithsonian Institution, University of Arizona, and the University of Michigan in the early 2000s. The goal was to advance the future of ground-based optical infrared astronomy well beyond the capabilities of existing 10-meter class telescopes. The result was a 30-meter class, extremely large, segmented optical infrared telescope design using giant primary mirrors based on the heritage of the twin Magellan Telescopes and the Large Binocular Telescope.
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Leadership
The Giant Magellan Telescope is governed by 14 research institutions representing Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States. Overseeing the successful completion of the telescope are the Board of Directors, Science Advisory Council, and Executive Team.
Meet our leadership
Careers
The Giant Magellan Telescope is solving the world’s most difficult engineering challenges and the most important scientific questions with talented individuals who share our passion for revolutionizing humanity’s knowledge of the universe. We welcome you to join our team and make your impact on the future of astronomy.
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