Texas A&M Reaffirms Support To Help Build Giant Magellan Telescope

Artist’s rendering of the Giant Magellan Telescope.
(Giant Magellan Telescope – GMTO Corporation)

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has authorized the execution of an amended and restated Founders’ Agreement and Commitment Agreement with the GMTO Corporation, reaffirming Texas A&M University’s support to assist in building the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) and helping to pave the way for construction to begin in Chile later this spring.

“This investment ensures that Texas A&M astronomers play key roles in breakthrough discoveries that will redefine the fields of astronomy and astrophysics,” said John Sharp, chancellor of the Texas A&M System. “Support for this important endeavor gives us a major boost toward establishing Texas A&M as a top institution in national and international astronomical research and instrumentation.”

The Giant Magellan Telescope, against the southern Milky Way, as it will appear when completed early next decade.
(Todd Mason/Mason Productions and GMTO Corporation)

The GMT, set for construction at the Las Campanas Observatory site in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, will be a member of the next class of super giant Earth-based telescopes that promises to revolutionize our view and understanding of the universe. When completed, the 25-meter colossus will feature 10 times the resolving power of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and more than six times the light-gathering area of the largest telescopes in existence today.

“This a major scientific step forward for us — and eventually for mankind as we seek to learn more about the vast universe in which we live,” said Texas A&M Interim President Mark A. Hussey. “In taking this big next step, we are ever mindful of the support that the late George P. Mitchell and his family gave Texas A&M in this ambitious endeavor, and we continue to marvel at his visionary efforts on all fronts. Also, we are especially pleased to move forward with this commitment at a time when we have as one of our Texas A&M University Institute for Advanced Study Faculty Fellows, Dr. Ed Moses, who serves as president of the Giant Magellan Telescope Organization.”

Read more about the Giant Magellan Telescope on the College of Science site.