The following is a list of the largest optical reflecting telescopes sorted by mirror diameter. Note that two of the first three are not yet operational. This list does not currently include telescopes that are still in the conceptual/proposed stage, such as the Overwhelmingly Large Telescope or the European Extremely Large Telescope; the design stage, such as the Thirty Meter Telescope; or ones still in the early stages of manufacturing such as the Giant Magellan Telescope.
Galaxy Zoo is a scientific project that has invited members of the public to help classify a million galaxies. This blog describes the project, gives updates on our status, and explains the process of turning ideas to scientific results.
If you've never abandoned your 4th grade obsession with the night sky (and who has?), Star Viewer is a web-based tool for peeking at some of the most interesting and vivid sights in the night sky. Star Viewer is not as complicated as, say, the previously mentioned open-source and feature-rich astronomy tool Stellarium
One beautiful Fall day seventeen years ago I wandered into an office and my life profoundly changed. I was an undergraduate at Princeton, and was looking for a thesis advisor. Jadwin Hall was an intimidating place. Plenty of names familiar from my textboo
