Record #00236Technology archive
World's Largest Solar Telescope by Clear Aperture
The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on Maui, Hawaii, has a 4-metre clear optical aperture and is the world's largest dedicated solar telescope.
ARCHIVE VISUAL / 01
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Current Record
4m
Current record value
- Location
- Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory, Maui, Hawaii, USA · United States
- Start date
- 2021-11-22
- Record status
- Verified · currentReport an issue
Overview
Archive NoteOperated by the US National Solar Observatory, the telescope sits at the high-altitude Haleakalā observatory site on Maui and studies solar surfaces, atmospheric structures and magnetic fields.
Its primary mirror measures about 4.24 metres physically, but the clear usable aperture is 4 metres after masking the edge. This record uses the optical aperture, not the physical mirror diameter.
The Guinness record gives 22 November 2021 as the completion date, following earlier solar observations. An off-axis optical design reduces scattered light and supports fine-scale solar magnetism measurements.
Record history
1 Milestones- 4 mDaniel K. Inouye Solar TelescopeHaleakalā High Altitude Observatory, Maui, Hawaii, USACurrent Record
Sources
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