Mexico - Perched at 4 600 metres on a cold, spent volcano, the Large Millimetre Telescope (LMT) will scan microwaves to look into the dawn of the universe, when it begins a two-year testing period on Wednesday.
At 2 000 tons and $115m, its 50m dish is the result of a joint effort of Mexico's National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INAOE) and the US University of Massachusetts.
When it goes into scientific operation in 2008 "the LMT will be the largest and most sensitive single-aperture telescope operating at wavelengths of 0.85mm to 4mm", its ltmgtm.org website announced.
"This telescope is capable of observing conditions prevalent when the first stars and galaxies were formed 13 400 billion years ago," said astrophysicist Emanuel Mendez.
Eight years in the making, the German-designed LMT will be the most precise radio telescope of its kind in the world and will be used to study the composition of comets, the atmospheres of planets beyond our solar system, and the origins of the universe.
"Microwave astronomy is still in its infancy and promises to unveil fascinating secrets," Mendez said.
"Short millimetre wavelengths will give us precise measurements of speed, temperature, density, magnetic field and physical composition of our targets," he added.
The steel-and-cement structure will be officially inaugurated on Wednesday, after which the telescope will be put through rigorous testing before it is deemed fully operational in 2008.
Its base on the Sierra Negra volcano, 350 kilometres southeast of Mexico City, ensures near optimal conditions for its operation: very low humidity and a vantage point giving it an excellent view of both southern and northern skies.
