The printing of authentic cosmic imagery is fast approaching its next tipping point. Powerful new telescope technology will soon be coming online in Hawaii, Chile, and in outer space. These new telescopes far surpass what we have long considered state-of-the-art. At the very least, they promise to give us a profoundly sharper view of the universe. Here at Big Bang Prints, we can only imagine the improvement in sharpness and detail.
Let's take a look at these big, bad beauties.
Giant Magellan Telescope (Chile)
Another addition to Chile's powerful collection of telescopes will be the Giant Magellan Telescope, planned for Las Campanas Observatory in the southern Atacama. The GMT's innovative design features seven of today's largest stiff monolith mirrors. These mirrors will focus light onto seven smaller, flexible secondary mirrors, then back to a central primary mirror and finally to advanced imaging cameras, where the light can be analyzed. "First light" from the telescope is expected by 2023.
Extremely Large Telescope — Chile
The European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) is set to be the largest telescope worldwide. It has a diameter of 39 meters which will let in 13 times more light than current telescopes.
That power will allow astronomers to capture extremely distant solar systems and detect signs of dark energy. Already under construction, the ELT is set to start operation in 2024 It will be the largest telescope on Earth, boasting a main mirror that stretches 39 meters across!
James Webb Space Telescope
A successor of the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will traverse outer space, unencumbered by Earth's atmosphere. JWST's primary mirror is 3X larger than the Hubble Space Telescope. JWST will specialize in detecting the infrared spectrum rather than visible light, allowing it to investigate leftovers from the early universe. After many delays, it has been reset to launch by 2021.
What This Means For Authentic Space Image Printing
For those who appreciate and revel in the cosmos, nothing inspires more awe and wonder than viewing a galaxy or nebula in extreme detail. To actually see individual stars inside a neighboring galaxy and imagining what alien planets are orbiting them and then realizing that what you are looking at is NOT an artist rendering but a real HD picture. It's really out there!
We can only imagine the possibilities. With the kind of resolution the telescope developers are talking about, it can bring real astro printing to a whole new level. Hello 50 ft. planetarium wall mural!