The largest optical/infrared telescope in the world, the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), held its groundbreaking ceremony at the 3000 meter peak of Cerro Armazones in Chile.
The E-ELT is planned to start operations within the next decade; around 2024. Projects for the European Extremely Large Telescope include tracking down habitable Earth-like planets, finding out more about dark matter and dark energy, and measuring the properties of the first stars and galaxies.
Civil works in the the Cerro Armazones started in March 2014 and are expected to take 16 months. These include the laying and maintenance of a paved road, the construction of the summit platform and the construction of a service trench to the summit.
