The Thirty Meter Telescope has a possible new location

After protests, the TMT board had to conceive a Plan B
By | Published: November 2, 2016 | Last updated on May 18, 2023

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Key Takeaways:

  • Construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), a $1.4 billion project, faced significant opposition in its proposed Hawaiian location due to cultural and environmental concerns.
  • The TMT's intended purpose is to facilitate advanced astronomical research, including the study of exoplanets.
  • Following resistance in Hawaii, the TMT International Observatory board has designated the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos in the Canary Islands, Spain, as the primary alternative site.
  • While efforts to secure approval for the Hawaiian site continue, the Canary Islands location serves as a contingency plan should protests persist.
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An artist’s rendering of what the TMT will look like when completed.
TMT
According to BBC News the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) may be built in the Canary Islands, Spain after resistance from Hawaiians who believe the proposed site is sacred.

The project, which will cost $1.4 billion, will allow astronomers to study the Universe and explore exoplanets.

There were many reasons for the opposition of construction on the TMT in Hawaii. Some people consider Mauna Kea the most sacred mountain on the island that is connected to their religion’s deities, while others oppose it for environmental reasons.

Last week, the board met to discuss alternative locations. Henry Yang, chair of the TMT international observatory board, said in a statement that the board had come up with a new plan.

Yang said in his statement, “After careful deliberation, the board of governors has identified Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos on La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain, as the primary alternative to Hawaii.”

The TMT board is still working to gain approval for site in Hawaii, where development has been in process for the past 15 years, but if protests continue they will have to use their back-up plan.

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