Chile hosts one of
the largest collections of optical and infra-red telescopes in the
world: currently five 8 meter telescopes, two 6 meter telescopes, four
4 meter telescopes, and a variety of smaller telescopes (the
number quoted here, e.g. 8 meter, is the diameter of the main mirror of
the telescope). Long term future plans include the construction of
telescopes with mirror diameters between 24 meters (GMT) and about 45
meters (E-ELT)!
Two 12 meter sub-millimeter radio telescopes are currently operational,
at a site which will soon host the largest most sensitive millimeter
radio telescope array in the world (ALMA; first observations in 2008,
with expected completion around 2012). These observatories and
telescopes are run by international teams from the U.S., Europe, U.K.,
and Japan, among others. As part of a standard agreement, astronomers
from Chilean institutes obtain preferential access (10% of all
observing time) on every telescope located in Chile.
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