Kottomia Astronomical Observatory - The Best Places of Egypt official Facebook accountCAIRO – 3 January 2018: The Egyptian Large Optical Telescope (ELOT) and an astronomical observatory will be established in Upper Egypt within the next 10 years, as part of a plan to upgrade space research and studies in Egypt.ELOT is planned to be the biggest telescope in the Arab region, the Middle East and the whole Mediterranean Basin – three times bigger than the Kottamia observatory telescope, with a 6.5–meter-wide mirror. Infrared will be used to monitor celestial bodies and visible rays in astronomical observations. The construction of ELOT is scheduled to be finished in 10 years with expected costs of LE 1 billion ($56.5 million).Egypt originally chose one of the mountain peaks in Saint Catherine, a city in the South Sinai governorate, as the most suitable site for establishing ELOT. The agency would be based in Cairo and may have branches throughout Egypt. It aims to transfer, localize and develop space science and technology to build and launch satellites from Egyptian territory, and to serve the country's strategy in areas of development and national security.

Source: Egypt Today January 03, 2018 15:33 UTC