Giant Magellan Telescope's Grand Vision Hinges on Funding

The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) is entering its final design phase and seeks continued NSF federal funding plus more private donations to cover its roughly $2 billion cost. With seven 8.4-meter mirrors and advanced adaptive optics, GMT will aim to image habitable-zone exoplanets, map gas around distant galaxies, and push astronomy into the 2030s alongside ELT and TMT, contingent on securing the necessary funding and partnerships.