Giant Magellan Telescope Earns Top Marks in Earthquake Safety, a First in Observatory Design

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Engineers designing the Giant Magellan Telescope have solved an immense design challenge never attempted before: Protecting a 22-story rotating observatory and seven of the world’s largest monolithic mirrors from being damaged by earthquakes. The innovative seismic protection design earned top marks from an independent review panel of international experts in early November, paving the way for the next generation in observatory design. “The structures of the n