YeinJee's Asian Journal

The Great Canary Telescope (Gran Telescopio CANARIAS; GTC), the world’s largest optical telescope has started its operation on July 13, 2007.

The Great Canary Telescope (Image courtesy of GTC, via Newscientist)

The huge observatory (with 10.4 metre telescope) is built atop a mountain on the island of La Palma (part of the Canary Islands); it cost $180 million and 7 years to construct. The GTC is doing test observations at the moment, with science observations intended to begin in about a year.

According to European Space Agency (ESA), scientists have reported the first conclusive discovery of the presence of water vapour in the atmosphere of an exoplanet, or a planet beyond our Solar System. [More details from ESA]

An artist’s impression of the transiting exoplanet, named ‘HD 189733b’ (Image courtesy of ESA)