List of largest optical reflecting telescopes

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This list of the largest optical reflecting telescopes with objective diameters of Script error: No such module "convert". or greater is sorted by aperture, which is a measure of the light-gathering power and resolution of a reflecting telescope. The mirrors themselves can be larger than the aperture, and some telescopes may use aperture synthesis through interferometry. Telescopes designed to be used as optical astronomical interferometers such as the Keck I and II used together as the Keck Interferometer (up to 85 m) can reach higher resolutions, although at a narrower range of observations. When the two mirrors are on one mount, the combined mirror spacing of the Large Binocular Telescope (22.8 m) allows fuller use of the aperture synthesis.

Largest does not always equate to being the best telescopes, and overall light gathering power of the optical system can be a poor measure of a telescope's performance. Space-based telescopes, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, take advantage of being above the Earth's atmosphere to reach higher resolution and greater light gathering through longer exposure times. Location in the northern or southern hemisphere of the Earth can also limit what part of the sky can be observed, and climate conditions at the observatory site affect how often the telescope can be used each year.

The combination of large mirrors, locations selected for stable atmosphere and favorable climate conditions, and active optics and adaptive optics to correct for much of atmospheric turbulence allow the largest Earth based telescopes to reach higher resolution than the Hubble Space Telescope.[1] Another advantage of Earth based telescopes is the comparatively low cost of upgrading and replacing instruments.

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Table of reflecting telescopes

Telescopes in this list are ordered by effective optical aperture, given as the diameter of a circle with equivalent collecting area. Aperture has historically been a useful gauge of telescopes' limiting resolution, optical area, physical size, and cost. Multiple mirror or segmented mirror telescopes that are on the same mount and usually form a single combined image are ranked by their equivalent combined aperture. Telescopes that cannot use their entire primary mirror at once (e.g. HET or LAMOST) are listed by their maximum effective aperture. Telescopes that are sometimes used for optical interferometry are listed individually, not as a combined instrument. All telescopes with an effective aperture of at least Script error: No such module "convert". at visible or near-infrared wavelengths are included; selected smaller telescopes are listed elsewhere.

Reflecting telescopes
Name Image Effective aperture Mirror type Nationality / Sponsors Site First light
Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) File:LargeBinoTelescope NASA½.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". (combined)[2] Multiple
Two Script error: No such module "convert". mirrors		 USA, Italy, Germany Mount Graham International Observatory, Arizona, USA 2005
Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) File:Grantelescopio.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Segmented
36 hexagonal segments		 Spain, Mexico, USA Roque de los Muchachos Obs., Canary Islands, Spain 2006
Hobby–Eberly Telescope (HET) File:HET Dome.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". (effective) [3] Segmented
91 × Script error: No such module "convert". hexagonal segments forming an 11 m × 9.8 m mirror		 USA, Germany McDonald Observatory, Texas, USA 1997
Aperture increased 2015
Keck 1 File:KeckTelescopes-hi.png Script error: No such module "convert". Segmented
36 hexagonal segments		 USA Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA 1993
Keck 2 File:KeckTelescopes-hi.png Script error: No such module "convert". Segmented
36 hexagonal segments		 USA Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA 1996
Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) File:Southern African Large Telescope 720x576px.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". (effective)[4] Segmented
91 × Script error: No such module "convert". hexagonal segments forming an 11 m × 9.8 m mirror		 South Africa, USA, UK, Germany, Poland, New Zealand South African Astronomical Obs., Northern Cape, South Africa 2005
Subaru (JNLT) File:MaunaKea Subaru.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single Japan Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA 1999
VLT UT1 – Antu File:Paranal opendome.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single ESO Countries, Chile Paranal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile 1998
VLT UT2 – Kueyen File:UVES on UT2-KUEYEN.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single ESO Countries, Chile Paranal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile 1999
VLT UT3 – Melipal File:Paranal UT3 2008-01-04.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single ESO Countries, Chile Paranal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile 2000
VLT UT4 – Yepun File:Cloaked in Stars.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single ESO Countries, Chile Paranal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile 2001
Gemini North (Gillett)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". File:Gemini Observatory at sunset.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA, UK, Canada, Chile, Australia, Argentina, Brazil Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA 1999
Gemini South File:Gemini South 01.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA, UK, Canada, Chile, Australia, Argentina, Brazil Cerro Pachón (CTIO), Coquimbo Region, Chile 2001
James Webb Space Telescope File:JWST spacecraft model 3.png 6.5 m

(256 in)

Segmented
18 hexagonal segments 		NASA, ESA, CSA Halo orbit around the Earth-Sun L2 Point 2022
MMT (current optics) File:MMT Observatory.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA F. L. Whipple Obs., Arizona, USA 2000
Magellan 1 (Walter Baade)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[5] File:Magellan telescopes.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA Las Campanas Obs., Atacama Region, Chile 2000
Magellan 2 (Landon Clay)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". File:Magellan telescopes.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA Las Campanas Obs., Atacama Region, Chile 2002
Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) Script error: No such module "convert". Single Japan Cerro Chajnantor, Atacama Desert, Chile 2024[6]
Simonyi Survey Telescope File:Panorama of Rubin During First Look Observations (500 megapixels) (noirlab2521w).jpg Script error: No such module "convert". (effective)[7] Combined primary & tertiary mirror
Total diameter Script error: No such module "convert".[7]		 USA Vera C. Rubin Observatory, Coquimbo Region, Chile 2025
BTA-6 File:Главная обсерватория.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USSR/Russia Special Astrophysical Obs., Karachay–Cherkessia, Russia 1975
Large Zenith Telescope (LZT) File:180724main 6-mMirror.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Liquid Canada, France, United States [8] Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada 2003
Decommissioned 2016
Hale Telescope File:P200 Dome Open.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA Palomar Observatory, California, USA 1949
LAMOST File:LAMOST telescope org.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". (effective)[9] Segmented
37 segments for the 6.67 m × 6.05 m primary and 24 segments for the 5.72 m × 4.40 m corrector; effective aperture 3.6–4.9 m[10]		 China Beijing Astronomical Obs., Xinglong, China 2008
MMT (original optics)
(see above for current version)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		 File:MMT Observatory.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". (combined)[11] Multiple
Six Script error: No such module "convert". mirrors		 USA F. L. Whipple Obs., Arizona, USA 1979
Mirrors removed 1998
Lowell Discovery Telescope[12] File:The Dome of Discovery Channel Telecope.JPG Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA Lowell Observatory, Happy Jack, Arizona, USA 2012
William Herschel Telescope File:William herschel Telescope Dome.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single UK, Netherlands, Spain Roque de los Muchachos Obs., Canary Islands, Spain 1987
SOAR File:SOAR telescope at twlight.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA, Brazil Cerro Pachón (CTIO), Coquimbo Region, Chile 2002
VISTA File:VISTA at Paranal Eso0704b.tif Script error: No such module "convert". Single ESO Countries, Chile Paranal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile 2009
Víctor M. Blanco Telescope File:4m-Victor M. Blanco Telescope.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA Cerro Tololo Inter-American Obs., Coquimbo Region, Chile 1976
International Liquid Mirror Telescope Script error: No such module "convert". Liquid Belgium, Canada, India, Poland ARIES Devasthal Observatory, Nainital, India 2022
Nicholas U. Mayall 4 m[13] File:Kittpeakteliscope.JPG Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA Kitt Peak National Obs., Arizona, USA 1973
Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope File:Haleakala Observatory 2017.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA Haleakala Observatory, Hawaii, USA 2019
DAG Telescope Script error: No such module "convert". Single Turkey Eastern Anatolia Observatory, Erzurum, Turkey 2025Script error: No such module "Unsubst".[14][15]
Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) File:Anglo-Australian Telescope dome.JPG Script error: No such module "convert". Single Australia, UK Australian Astronomical Obs., New South Wales, Australia 1974
United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) File:UKIRT at sunset (straightened).jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single UK, United States Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA 1979
3.67 m AEOS Telescope (AEOS) File:AEOS3 lg.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA Air Force Maui Optical Station, Hawaii, USA 1996
3.6 m Devasthal Optical Telescope[16] (DOT) File:3.6m Devasthal Optical Telescope.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single India ARIES Devasthal Observatory, Nainital, India 2016
Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) File:Tng 2001.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single Italy Roque de los Muchachos Obs., Canary Islands, Spain 1997
New Technology Telescope (NTT) File:La Silla NTT.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single ESO countries La Silla Observatory, Coquimbo Region, Chile 1989
Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) File:Canada-France-Hawaii-Telescope-dome.jpeg Script error: No such module "convert". Single Canada, France, USA Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA 1979
ESO 3.6 m Telescope File:Wallpaper of 3.6-m Telescope at La Silla.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single ESO countries La Silla Observatory, Coquimbo Region, Chile 1977
MPI-CAHA 3.5 m[17] File:Bacares09.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single West Germany, Spain Calar Alto Obs., Almería, Spain 1984
USAF Starfire 3.5 m[18] File:Big3 5mtele.png Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA Starfire Optical Range, New Mexico, USA 1994
WIYN Telescope File:WIYN OBSERVATORY ON KITT PEAK.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA Kitt Peak National Obs., Arizona, USA 1994
Space Surveillance Telescope File:Space Surveillance Telescope.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA, Australia White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, United States
Relocated to
Harold E. Holt Naval Communication Station, Western Australia.		 2011
Relocated
2020
Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC) File:D70050914 15 ApolloLLR.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA Apache Point Obs., New Mexico, USA 1994
Iranian National Observatory (INO340)
File:INO340.png
 Script error: No such module "convert". Single Iran Mount Gargash, Isfahan Province, Iran 2022[19]
Shane Telescope File:Shane dome.JPG Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA Lick Observatory, California, USA 1959
NASA Infrared Telescope Facility File:Afshin Darian - NASA Infrared Telescope Facility.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Single USA Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii, USA 1979
NASA-LMT File:Liquid Mirror Telescope.jpg Script error: No such module "convert". Liquid USA NASA Orbital Debris Obs., New Mexico, USA 1995
Decommissioned 2002[20]
For continuation of this list, see List of large optical reflecting telescopes

Chronological list of largest telescopes

These telescopes were the largest in the world at the time of their construction, by the same aperture criterion as above.

Reflecting telescopes (chronologically)
Years Largest Name Out In Aperture (m) Area (m2) M1 Mirror Note Altitude (m)
2009–Present Gran Telescopio Canarias File:Grantelescopio.jpg File:Gran Telescopio Canarias.jpg 10.4 74 36 × 1.9 m hexagons M1 mirror Segmented mirror 2267
1993–2009 Keck 1 File:KeckTwilight-hi.png File:KeckObservatory20071013.jpg 10 76 [21] 36 × 1.8 m hexagons M1 mirror Segmented mirror, M1 f/1.75 4145
1976–1993 BTA-6 File:Главная обсерватория.jpg File:SAO-6m-Telescope-main-mirror.jpg 6 26 605 cm f/4 M1 mirror Mirror replaced twice 2070
1948–1976 Hale (200 inch) File:P200 Dome Open.jpg File:Palomar arp 600pix.jpg 5.1 – 508 cm f/3.3 M1 mirror 1713
1917–1948 Hooker (100 inch) File:100inchHooker.jpg 2.54 – Also used for 1st optical interferometer 1742
For earlier entries, see List of largest optical telescopes historically
File:Telescopes Size and Year Built.svg
Large reflecting telescopes over time. The horizontal axis indicates the year built and the vertical axis is the size of the mirror measured in meters. Selected countries are color-coded (see legend).

Future telescopes

Under construction

File:A towering telescope (DJI 0976).jpg
The Extremely Large Telescope under construction in 1 May 2025

These telescopes are under construction and will meet the list inclusion criteria once completed:

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Proposed

Selected large telescopes which are in detailed design or pre-construction phases:

See also

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ SPIE 2006 in Orlando – Proceedings of SPIE conference 6267 on "Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes", "The Large Binocular Telescope", John M. Hill, Richard F. Green and James H. Slagle
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  8. ↑ Andersen, Geoff. The Telescope, p. 165
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Universities in U.S. and Mexico Partner on Telescope Project. Arizona Public Media, 13 November 2017.
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
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Further reading

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External links

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