The reinstatement of funding to the Overwhelmingly Large Telescope Project

TL;DR

This paper advocates for reinstating funding to the OWL project, emphasizing the scientific potential of large segmented mirror telescopes like the proposed 100m OWL for exoplanet research.

Contribution

It highlights the scientific benefits of large segmented mirror telescopes and argues for reconsidering the cancellation of the OWL project.

Findings

Large telescopes enable detection of biological components in exoplanet atmospheres.

Advances in optical engineering make 100m class telescopes feasible.

Reinstating OWL could significantly advance astronomical knowledge.

Abstract

While space-based telescopes have had a part to play ultimately I feel that it is telescopes like myself that have contributed the most to pushing the boundaries of our knowledge. With current advances in optical engineering we have the ability to create segmented mirrors of considerable size. The scientific possibilities of a single 100m reflecting telescope are considerable, for example, allowing for the detection of biological components in exoplanet atmospheres. One such project was OWL, a project very close to my heart and one that was sadly cancelled before it even began. In light of the breakthroughs that such an instrument could have given the community I recommend the cancellation of the OWL to be reconsidered and for funding to be reinstated to the project.