Thirty Meter Telescope

Table of Contents☰

About Thirty Meter Telescope:

It is a revolutionary class of extremely large telescopes that will enable us to explore deeper into space and observe cosmic objects.
It is an ambitious international project involving India, the United States, Canada, China, and Japan that aims to significantly advance our understanding of the universe.
It is a next-generation astronomical observatory designed to provide unprecedented resolution and sensitivity with its massive 30-meter primary mirror, advanced adaptive optics system, and state-of-the-art instruments.
Primary goals:
- Study the early universe and the formation and evolution of the first galaxies and stars after the Big Bang.
- Investigate the formation, structure, and evolution of galaxies across cosmic time.
- Study the relationship between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies.
- Investigate the formation of stars and planetary systems.
- Characterize exoplanets and study their atmospheres.

Key Features of the TMT

Mirror System
- Primary Mirror: 30 meters in diameter, composed of 492 hexagonal segments.
- Secondary Mirror: Composed of 118 smaller hexagonal segments.
- Tertiary Mirror: 3.5 meters by 2.5 meters, positioned centrally within the primary mirror.
The TMT will feature instruments like the Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (IRIS) and the Wide-Field Optical Spectrograph (WFOS) for various observations.

What is an Adaptive Optics System?

The TMT’s AOS, known as the Narrow Field Infrared Adaptive Optics System (NFIRAOS), uses deformable mirrors and laser guide stars to correct atmospheric turbulence, enhancing image resolution.
Indian scientists have developed a tool to generate a comprehensive all-sky catalogue of NIR stars for this system.

Q1: What is a galaxy?

It is a huge collection of gas, dust, and of stars and their solar systems. A galaxy is held together by gravity. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, also has a in the middle.

Source: What is Thirty Meter Telescope and why is it significant for India?