Commemorative Time Capsule Buried at Site of World’s Largest Visible and Infrared Light Telescope

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) recently celebrated the upcoming completion of the Extremely Large Telescope (ETL) by burying a time capsule at the construction site. This capsule, sealed in 2017 when construction began, contains various tokens commemorating ESO staff, the observatory’s cooperation with Chile, and the impressive science and technology behind the 39.3-meter telescope.

ESO officials stated that the time capsule serves as a symbolic message to future generations. It includes mementos from Chilean authorities, such as a plaque from former President Michelle Bachelet Jeria, highlighting the country’s commitment to exploring the universe. Drawings from Chilean children depicting the Universe, ESO telescopes, and Chilean landscapes were also included. Additionally, the capsule features photographs of ESO staff and a book detailing the ELT’s future scientific goals. The ELT is expected to have its “first light” by 2028.

The time capsule was placed in the wall of the ELT dome on Cerro Armazones in the Chilean Atacama Desert, where the ESO currently operates its Very Large Telescope (VLT). To make it distinctive, the capsule was covered with an engraved hexagon, which is a one-fifth-scale model of one of the ELT’s primary mirror segments.

ESO Council President Linda Tacconi (Germany) and Vice-President Mirjam Lieshout-Vijverberg (The Netherlands) led the event on October 13. A few days later, ESO Council members installed a commemorative plaque next to the burial site of the time capsule.

Construction of the ELT reached its halfway point in July, and it is scheduled for completion in 2028. Although it is currently just a steel structure, the ELT will eventually house five separate mirrors, with the largest composed of 798 individual hexagonal segments.

With a width of 39.3 meters (120 feet), the ELT will gather more light than current ground-based telescopes, allowing for sharper images of the cosmos. This enhanced capability could aid in the search for extraterrestrial life and provide new insights into dark matter and dark energy.

“As the largest optical and infrared telescope in the world, the ELT will revolutionize our understanding of the universe,” said ESO officials. “Its scientific objectives span from the solar system to the far reaches of the observable universe, including exoplanets, black holes, and the first stars and galaxies.”