One of the UK's wealthiest individuals, Alex Gerko, is funding the construction of the largest all-lens telescope ever built, designed to reveal the 'cosmic web' — the vast network of gas and dark matter connecting galaxies across the universe. The project, named MOTHRA, aims to detect faint hydrogen gas emissions using special filters.
Gerko, founder and CEO of XTX Markets and the UK's biggest taxpayer, contacted Yale astronomy professor Pieter van Dokkum 'out of the blue' to discuss the project, according to van Dokkum. The billionaire has taken a practical role in building the telescope, which comprises 1,140 high-end Canon telephoto lenses working together as a single instrument.
The MOTHRA telescope is a dramatic upscaling of the Dragonfly Telephoto Array concept, which has already proven capable of detecting faint, large structures missed by conventional telescopes. By capturing the dim glow of intergalactic gas trapped in the cosmic web, scientists hope to map the 'architecture of the universe' that has evolved since the Big Bang.
Construction is underway in Chile, with operations beginning in 2025 and full activation expected by the end of the year. Gerko stated, 'Breakthrough instruments developed at speed often require new approaches — organisationally and technically. I'm proud to support such an ambitious project focused on generating long-term scientific value.'
