The world’s largest optical telescope is the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), also known as the Great Canary Telescope. It is located on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain, at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory.
The GTC has an impressive primary mirror that measures 10.4 meters (34 feet) in diameter, making it the largest single-aperture optical telescope in the world. The telescope is primarily used for observing distant astronomical objects, including galaxies, nebulae, and stars, providing groundbreaking insights into the universe.
The GTC is an important tool for astronomers and contributes significantly to both ground-based and space-based astronomy research.