The highest observatory in the world just opened in Chile

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Amazing ... a SIX-AND-A-HALF METER telescope is built, and it scarcely causes a ripple in the news.

The Hale 200", for decades the most powerful (and most famous) telescope in the world, is "only" 5.1 m and was the result of a Herculean effort spanning decades. The Soviet 236" was a nice round 6.0 m (by design, to trump the Hale telescope) and was the largest in the world for decades (but was hamstrung from the beginning by poor siting). Now they're popping out giant telescopes like fresh eggs.