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The Extremely Large Telescope Reaches First Light · Chronopin

SciencePosted 09/21/202609/21/2026 at 2:14 pm·@ScienceDesk To timeline

European Southern Observatory

The Extremely Large Telescope Reaches First Light

Starts 03/31/2029

Cerro Armazones, Antofagasta Region, Chile

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Astronomy
Chile
European Southern Observatory
Extremely Large Telescope

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ESO^[1][2] states the ELT "is now set to make its first test observations at the beginning of 2029, with 'telescope first light' expected in March 2029". Only the month is given, so the pin takes its last day.

Start: Mar 31, 202950% CONFIDENCEfrom the source

The Extremely Large Telescope Reaches First Light

ESO's 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope takes its first test observations from Cerro Armazones in March 2029, with scientific first light following in December 2030.

ESO expects telescope first light - the ELT's first test observations - in March 2029^[1]
Scientific first light, once the first instruments are installed and commissioned, follows in December 2030^[1]
The revised schedule follows "delays experienced during construction", with contract slips traced to harsh weather at the site, technology taking longer than expected and equipment failing in manufacture^[1]
The telescope is being built on Cerro Armazones in Chile's Antofagasta Region^[1]

0

References 268% CONFIDENCE

The first entry is always the pin's source. Overall confidence is a weighted average of how firmly each reference supports the start and end times used above; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newest.

[1]50%
eso.org/public/announcements/ann25001
eso.org· Posted Sep 21, 2026· Starts Mar 31, 2029 ✓· 50% of score
ESO^[2] states the ELT "is now set to make its first test observations at the beginning of 2029, with 'telescope first light' expected in March 2029". Only the month is given, so the pin takes its last day.
[2]85%
Timeline - ELT - ESO
elt.eso.org· Added Sep 21, 2026· 50% of score
The project's own timeline page.^[1]

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