PASADENA, Calif., Dec. 6 (UPI) -- A businessman has given $200 million to the California Institute of Technology and the University of California to build the world's largest telescope.
Intel Corp. founder Gordon Moore and his wife, Betty, gave the money to the schools to construct the optical telescope, which is planned to be three times the size of the current largest telescope, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.
The mirror of the new telescope would be nearly 100 feet across.
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation previously donated $50 million to the project.
The universities "are thrilled with the foundation's confidence in the project, and we and our partners are eager to create a history-making tool that will allow us to see farther into the universe than ever before," said Caltech President Jean-Lou Chameau.
The final designs of the telescope are expected to be completed in march 2009, with construction of the tool being completed in 2017.
