Fact Sheet
Passing the SALT
Astronomers from around the world are gathered in South Africa this week to dedicate the largest telescope in the southern hemisphere: SALT, the Southern African Large Telescope, which is shown with the stars of the southern hemisphere wheeling above it in this time-lapse photograph. Based on the design of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope at McDonald Observatory, SALT features a segmented 11-meter (35-foot) primary mirror. The telescope will be operated by a consortium of agencies and universities from Africa, the United States, and elsewhere. [Credit: SALT Consortium]
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