Reaching for the stars - New developments in ground-based astronomy

<!--HTML--><p>I will briefly review the state-of-the-art in ground-based astronomy - both on the telescope side and the instrument side. Interesting parallels can be drawn in cost, construction and operations with the particle physics facilities. I will then present some recent results in the two hottest topics in astronomy, driving the requests for more advanced facilities: exoplanets and the hunt for life beyond the solar system (calling for Extremely Large Telescope); and cosmology and the understanding of dark energy (calling for large survey telescopes). This will lead to a description of the latest telescope project developments on the ground: the on-going construction of the Large Synoptic Telescope on a quest to better understand dark energy, and the start of the construction of three Extremely Large Telescopes by European and US-led international consortia, hoping to find life on planets around nearby stars.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>ATS Seminars Organisers:</strong> H. Burkhardt (BE), M. Modena (TE), T. Stora (EN)</p> <p><br /> Coffee / tea will be served after the seminar in room 30/7-012</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>