Arrival of cryostat marks milestone on the road to the world’s largest telescope
After years of development, the moment has finally arrived: a massive cryostat, a highly advanced freezer that keeps the sensitive components extremely cold, has arrived in Leiden from Zurich. The device is the largest component of METIS, one of the first instruments for ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), currently under construction in Chile.
With the arrival of the cryostat in Leiden, a special new phase of the project can begin: the integration and extensive testing campaign of the complete instrument. A major milestone for the international research consortium.
From 2029 onwards, METIS will analyse infrared light in the 3–20 micrometre range with the ELT, enabling researchers to study cool objects, peer through dust, and even discover planets and their birthplaces around other stars.
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The METIS cryostat arrives in Leiden (photo: NOVA/Fred Kamphues) -
Artist impression of the Extremely Large Telescope at Cerro Armazones, Chili (illustration: ESO)