What will put the GTC ahead?
The GTC is the latest in a generation of large telescopes that are currently being built, so it has been possible to learn from the designs of its predecessors and attempt to improve on them. When it enters service it will have a larger light-collecting surface (75.7 m2) than any other optical or infrared telescope, equivalent in size to a 10.4 m circular mirror. Image quality is crucial and, in addition to this large light-collecting surface, the GTC will use two systems to optimize it active optics and adaptive optics. Active optics will be used to align, bend and move the mirrors (the segments of the primary and secondary mirrors) to keep them in exactly the same shape and position regardless of external conditions such as the weather, temperature, gravity and manufacturing imperfections that would otherwise affect image quality. Adaptive optics is a new technology being developed for the worlds leading telescopes. When in place it will allow the Universe to be observed almost as cl
