List of largest optical reflecting telescopes
Table of reflecting telescopes
This list is ordered by optical aperture, which has historically been a useful gauge of limiting resolution, optical area, physical size, and cost.

List of largest optical reflecting telescopes

Section Title: Table of reflecting telescopes
Table Section Text: This list is ordered by optical aperture, which has historically been a useful gauge of limiting resolution, optical area, physical size, and cost.

Name	Image	Effective aperture	Mirror type	Nationality / Sponsors	Site	Built

Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC)	-	10.4 m (409 in)	Segmented, 36	Spain (90%), Mexico, USA	Roque de los Muchachos Obs., Canary Islands, Spain	2006/9

Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) 11 m × 9.8 m mirror	-	10 m (394 in)	Segmented, 91	USA, Germany	McDonald Observatory, Texas, USA	1997

Keck 1	-	10 m (394 in)	Segmented, 36	USA	Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA	1993

Keck 2	-	10 m (394 in)	Segmented, 36	USA	Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA	1996

Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) 11 m × 9.8 m mirror	-	9.2 m (362 in)	Segmented, 91	South Africa, USA, UK, Germany, Poland, New Zealand	South African Astronomical Obs., Northern Cape, South Africa	2005

Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) Phased-array optics for combined 11.9 m	-	8.4 m (331 in) × 2	Multiple mirror, 2	USA, Italy, Germany	Mount Graham International Observatory, Arizona, USA	2004

Subaru (JNLT)	-	8.2 m (323 in)	Single	Japan	Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA	1999

VLT UT1 – Antu	-	8.2 m (323 in)	Single	ESO Countries, Chile	Paranal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile	1998

VLT UT2 – Kueyen	-	8.2 m (323 in)	Single	ESO Countries, Chile	Paranal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile	1999

VLT UT3 – Melipal	-	8.2 m (323 in)	Single	ESO Countries, Chile	Paranal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile	2000

VLT UT4 – Yepun	-	8.2 m (323 in)	Single	ESO Countries, Chile	Paranal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile	2001

Gemini North (Gillett)	-	8.1 m (319 in)	Single	USA, UK, Canada, Chile, Australia, Argentina, Brazil	Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA	1999

Gemini South	-	8.1 m (319 in)	Single	USA, UK, Canada, Chile, Australia, Argentina, Brazil	Cerro Pachón (CTIO), Coquimbo Region, Chile	2001

MMT (1 x 6.5 m)	-	6.5 m (256 in)	Single	USA	F. L. Whipple Obs., Arizona, USA	2000

Magellan 1 (Walter Baade)	-	6.5 m (256 in)	Honeycomb	USA	Las Campanas Obs., Atacama Region, Chile	2000

Magellan 2 (Landon Clay)	-	6.5 m (256 in)	Honeycomb	USA	Las Campanas Obs., Atacama Region, Chile	2002

BTA-6	-	6 m (236 in)	Single	USSR/Russia	Special Astrophysical Obs., Karachay–Cherkessia, Russia	1975

Large Zenith Telescope (LZT)	-	6 m (236 in)	Liquid	Canada, France, United States	Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada	2003

Hale Telescope (200 inch)	-	5.08 m (200 in)	Single	USA	Palomar Observatory, California, USA	1948

LAMOST (6.67 m × 6.05 m + 5.72 m × 4.40 m corrector; effective aperture 3.6–4.9 m)	-	4.9 m (193 in)	Segmented (37 + 24)	PRC (China)	Beijing Astronomical Obs., Xinglong, China	2008

MMT (original optics: 6 × 1.8 m) →see above for current 6.5 m mirror	-	4.7 m (185 in) (6×1.8 m)	Segmented, 6	USA	F. L. Whipple Obs., Arizona, USA	1979–1998

Discovery Channel Telescope	The Dome of Discovery Channel Telecope.JPG	4.3 m (169 in)	Single	USA	Lowell Observatory, Happy Jack, Arizona, USA	2012

William Herschel Telescope	-	4.2 m (165 in)	Single	UK, Netherlands, Spain	Roque de los Muchachos Obs., Canary Islands, Spain	1987

SOAR	-	4.1 m (161 in)	Single	USA, Brazil	Cerro Pachón (CTIO), Coquimbo Region, Chile	2002

VISTA	VISTA at Paranal Eso0704b.tif	4.1 m (161 in)	Single	ESO Countries, Chile	Paranal Observatory, Antofagasta Region, Chile	2009

Victor M. Blanco Telescope	-	4 m (157 in)	Single	USA	Cerro Tololo Inter-American Obs., Coquimbo Region, Chile	1976

Nicholas U. Mayall 4 m	Kittpeakteliscope.JPG	4 m (157 in)	Single	USA	Kitt Peak National Obs., Arizona, USA	1973

Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT)	Anglo-Australian Telescope dome.JPG	3.89 m (153 in)	Single	Australia, UK	Australian Astronomical Obs., New South Wales, Australia	1974

3.67 m AEOS Telescope (AEOS)	-	3.67 m (144 in)	Single	USA	Air Force Maui Optical Station, Hawaii, USA	1996

3.6 m Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT)	-	3.6 m (142 in)	Single	India	ARIES Devasthal Observatory, Nainital, India	2016

Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG)	-	3.58 m (141 in)	Single	Italy	Roque de los Muchachos Obs., Canary Islands, Spain	1997

New Technology Telescope (NTT)	-	3.58 m (141 in)	Single	ESO countries	La Silla Observatory, Coquimbo Region, Chile	1989

Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT)	Canada-France-Hawaii-Telescope-dome.jpeg	3.58 m (141 in)	Single	Canada, France, USA	Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii, USA	1979

ESO 3.6 m Telescope	-	3.57 m (141 in)	Single	ESO countries	La Silla Observatory, Coquimbo Region, Chile	1977

MPI-CAHA 3.5 m	-	3.5 m (138 in)	Single	West Germany, Spain	Calar Alto Obs., Almería, Spain	1984

USAF Starfire 3.5 m	-	3.5 m (138 in)	Single	USA	Starfire Optical Range, New Mexico, USA	1994

WIYN Telescope	-	3.5 m (138 in)	Single	USA	Kitt Peak National Obs., Arizona, USA	1994

Space Surveillance Telescope	-	3.5 m (138 in)	Single	USA	White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, USA	2011

Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC)	-	3.48 m (137 in)	Single	USA	Apache Point Obs., New Mexico, USA	1994

Shane Telescope	Shane dome.JPG	3.05 m (120 in)	Single	USA	Lick Observatory, California, USA	1959

NASA Infrared Telescope Facility	-	3.0 m (118 in)	Single	USA	Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii, USA	1979

NASA-LMT →retired, private	-	3 m (118 in)	Liquid	USA	NASA Orbital Debris Obs., New Mexico, USA	1995–2002

For continuation of this list, see List of large optical reflecting telescopes

Sentence(s)

The Large Binocular Telescope, one of the largest optical telescopes, began operations using mirrors independently in 2004, with joint operations between the two mirrors beginning in 2008.
The Large Binocular Telescope is one of the world's largest optical telescopes, and began operations using two mirrors in 2004.
The Large Binocular Telescope is one of the largest optical telescopes, began operations in Mount Graham International Observatory using two mirrors in 2014.

final_sentence: The Large Binocular Telescope, one of the largest optical telescopes, began operations using mirrors independently in 2004, with joint operations between the two mirrors beginning in 2008.
final_sentence: The Large Binocular Telescope is one of the world's largest optical telescopes, and began operations using two mirrors in 2004.
final_sentence: The Large Binocular Telescope is one of the largest optical telescopes, began operations in Mount Graham International Observatory using two mirrors in 2014.