Partial Timeline for the Large Binocular Telescope

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1993

December: LBT construction site partially cleared

1996

June: Clearing of the LBT construction site resumes

1997

January: Casting of first 8.4m mirror March: Construction of the telescope pier, the ring wall, the utility trench, excavation of the enclosure foundation, and drilling of the elevator shaft begins September: Furnace opened to reveal first 8.4m mirror

1998

January: Contract for the fabrication of the bell jar along with the mirror cells awarded to Ansaldo Energia S.p.A. February: First 8.4m mirror removed from furnace and cleaned March: Installation of the rotating part of the LBT enclosure begins

1999

March: Installation of septic tanks and plumbing completed April: Pier upper ring installed June: Majority of structural steel for rotating building is completed June: Finishing of the backside of the first 8.4m mirror completed December: Majority of siding for enclosure is installed

2000

May: Casting of the second 8.4m mirror begins Construction begins on MGIO utility building August: NSF awards Ohio State $1 million to build Multi-Object Double Spectrograph for use on the telescope

2001

Construction continues on MGIO utility building June: Sliding shutter doors partially opened

2002

Enclosure completed August: First mirror continues to be polished, second mirror is cleaned out November: Aluminization system testing begins at Rickenbacker Airport

2003

Alumnization system testing completion; system moves to Mouth Graham

2004

First light expected on first primary mirror

2005

First light expected on second primary mirror

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