B.B.C. Article
The top of a 3,000m-high (10,000ft) mountain in Chile will be blown up on Thursday to make way for the world's largest optical and infrared telescope.
A million tonnes of rock will be blasted in order to create a level surface on which to build the European-Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT).
At its heart will lie a mirror that is half the size of a football pitch.
This will allow astronomers to look further into space and in more detail than ever before.



The explosion in Cerro Armazones in northern Chile will take place between 1730-1930 BST and will be streamed live by the European Southern Observatory.

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kennyc wrote:Wow, so it's not just China that are blasting mountains outta the way....

I have to wonder though about the trade-offs of terrestrial telescopes (and their conveniences) verses space telescopes.....

I guess we really need both.....I'm thinking of the James Webb Space Telescope which it sucking up a huge part of Nasa's budget...

kennyc wrote:Wow, so it's not just China that are blasting mountains outta the way....

I have to wonder though about the trade-offs of terrestrial telescopes (and their conveniences) verses space telescopes.....

I guess we really need both.....I'm thinking of the James Webb Space Telescope which it sucking up a huge part of Nasa's budget...

VazScep wrote:

kennyc wrote:Wow, so it's not just China that are blasting mountains outta the way....

I have to wonder though about the trade-offs of terrestrial telescopes (and their conveniences) verses space telescopes.....

I guess we really need both.....I'm thinking of the James Webb Space Telescope which it sucking up a huge part of Nasa's budget...

I don't have a preference, so long as their setup involves 'splosions. Same goes for the rest of science.

Made of Stars wrote:

VazScep wrote:

kennyc wrote:Wow, so it's not just China that are blasting mountains outta the way....

I have to wonder though about the trade-offs of terrestrial telescopes (and their conveniences) verses space telescopes.....

I guess we really need both.....I'm thinking of the James Webb Space Telescope which it sucking up a huge part of Nasa's budget...

I don't have a preference, so long as their setup involves 'splosions. Same goes for the rest of science.

Rocket launches are a close second to 'splosions.