“After years of planning and financial anxieties, construction began on the European Extremely Large Telescope on Friday. Once completed, it will be known as the world’s largest optical telescope, which is five times larger than the top observing instruments we are using today. According to the backers, the size of the optical telescope comes with the potential of transforming our understanding of the universe, and with its main mirror, it will calculate some 39 meters (43 yards) across. The ELT is situated on a 3,000 meter-high Mountain in the middle of the Atacama desert and is scheduled to start operating in 2024.”