Europe’s largest ever solar telescope set to enter construction phase

Seven European countries have joined forces to begin construction of the European Space Telescope (EST) — the largest of its kind to ever be built in the continent.

On Tuesday, nine research institutions from the participating nations (Czechia, Germany, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK) established the EST Foundation, which committed to lead the project in the next phase of development.

The new body will also see to the creation of a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) — the legal entity responsible for overseeing all aspects of the telescope’s construction and operation.

The EST is a large-aperture solar telescope, featuring a 4.2-metre primary mirror. It’s been designed to help deepen our understanding of the sun by observing its magnetic fields in unprecedented detail.

European Solar Telescope

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