Celebrations held as dome of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope reaches its peak

ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) recently hit an important symbolic milestone: with the structure of one of the dome’s sliding doors now fully installed — and much of the other also up — construction on the ELT dome has reached its highest point. The occasion was celebrated today in Garching, Germany, where ESO hosted an event at its headquarters for industrial and institutional partners, as well as at the construction site atop Cerro Armazones in Chile, in what is known as the Topping Out — or Roofing — Ceremony.  

This ceremony, also known as the Tijerales in Chile, featured ESO and Chilean flags being raised atop the telescope dome, and a traditional barbecue for the hardworking people at the construction site. The Tijerales was attended by Governor Ricardo Díaz, representing the Antofagasta Region, where the ELT is located. In Garching, the event featured presentations, networking and a lunch buffet, with several of the industries that have participated in the design, construction and integration of ELT components joining the celebration. A live stream was set up between the two events, allowing teams from both continents to share the success of the ELT’s construction, as the project recently passed the 60% completed milestone.  

This transatlantic celebration was attended by many of the people who have been brought together by their work on the ELT. Such an ambitious project has only been made possible through the continued support of ESO Member and Partner States, including the project’s various institutional and industrial partners and the many ESO people involved in making it a reality.   

The Topping Out Ceremony is believed to have originated in ancient Scandinavia and takes place on construction sites globally. The Chilean custom includes a flag being placed at the highest point, while in many other countries (including in the German Richtfest), this is replaced by a wreath, tree branches, or evergreen garlands. Despite their differences, most versions of the event include a well-deserved meal for those directly involved in the construction project.   

As the world’s largest eye on the sky continues to be built, we look forward to celebrating future milestones on the path to first light. Once operational, ESO’s ELT will observe the cosmos from a unique place on Earth. Thanks to its technological prowess and the pristine dark skies above Armazones, the ELT will revolutionise what we know about our Universe.

Courtesy of European Southern Observatory