Brazilian Technology to Power Core Component of World’s Largest Telescope in Chile

Brazilian researchers are developing a core, high-tech component for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which, when completed, will be the world’s largest optical and mid-infrared telescope, built in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The National Astrophysics Laboratory (LNA), a unit linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), along with the University of São Paulo (USP), is leading the development of a critical piece of hardware for the international project.

Brazil's specific responsibility is to develop and integrate the Instrument Core Subsystem (Icos) for the Multi-Object Spectrograph (MOSAIC), one of the ELT's primary instruments. MOSAIC is designed to observe hundreds of cosmic objects simultaneously, a key function that will allow astronomers to study fundamental questions like galaxy formation and the distribution of matter in the early universe. The Icos acts as the central hub, responsible for integrating all the other subsystems of the sophisticated spectrograph.

The ELT is an initiative of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), an intergovernmental organization supported by 16 Member States that designs, builds, and operates advanced ground-based observatories. Located atop Cerro Armazones in Chile's Atacama Desert, the telescope will feature a massive 39-meter main mirror, making it the largest of its kind. Brazil’s contribution to a mission of this scale—developing a complex engineering system for a consortium of international institutions—signals the country’s increasing capability in world-class technological instrumentation.

For the Brazilian scientific community, participation in the project is vital, as it guarantees local scientists and engineers access to the ELT and fosters cutting-edge international collaboration. By delivering the Icos, Brazil ensures its researchers will be among the first to utilize the telescope’s unprecedented power to tackle some of the biggest scientific challenges of our time.

Construction of the ELT, which has suffered some delays, is moving forward, with technical first light planned for March 2029. The telescope is currently expected to deliver its first scientific observations in December 2030, meaning the Brazilian-designed Icos must be fully integrated and operational within the next four years to meet the final timeline for scientific use.