Record-Breaking Telescopes by Aperture Size

A comparison of the largest light-gathering apertures in operation or under construction, highlighting the different engineering requirements for space vs. ground-based units.

The top 3

  1. Extremely Large Telescope (ELT): 39.5 Meters: Currently under construction in Chile, this ground-based optical telescope will hold the record for the largest aperture, using 798 hexagonal mirror segments.
  2. FAST: The 500-Meter Radio King: Located in China, the Five-Hundred-Meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) remains the world's largest single-dish radio telescope by diameter.
  3. Gran Telescopio Canarias: 10.4 Meters: As of recent counts, this Spanish-based optical telescope remains the largest single-aperture optical reflecting telescope currently in full scientific operation.

Sources

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