The Giant Magellan Telescope will be one of the largest optical/infrared telescope projects ever undertaken. It aims to have sensitivity 10 times greater than the Hubble space telescope, which will enable researchers explore the formation of the first galaxies in the early Universe, to study the physics of material surrounding black holes, and to investigate Earthlike planets around other stars.

The telescope will be constructed in Las Campanas, Chile, with initial works scheduled to commence in Q1 2010. The project will be facilitated by the Giant Magellan Telescope Organisation (GMTO); a consortium of academic institutions and research organisations from the US, South Korea and Australia. The Australian National University is the principal organisation in Australia and with its partnership with Astronomy Australia Limited, holds a 15% stake in the project. The project will be facilitated through the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (RSAA).

Central to the RSAA involvement in the GMT project will be the design and construction of an Integral Field Spectrograph (GMTIFS) for use with the Giant Magellan Telescope. The GMTIFS will be designed and constructed locally at the RSAA Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre at Mt Stromlo, Canberra. In addition to the design and construction of the instrument, it is also anticipated that upgrades to the Mt Stromlo infrastructure will be commissioned as a part of the project. 

Opportunities exist for companies wishing to develop skills in space-related technologies, including optics, vacuum cryogenics, control systems, detector systems, integration, assembly, and test and validation in the areas of systems engineering, mechanical engineering, analogue and digital electrical engineering, software engineering, and project management.

The School is currently seeking commercial companies interested in partnering in the project.

Image courtesy -Giant Magellan Telescope - Carnegie Observatories.