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from the only-18.9-inches-shy-of-100-foot-telescope dept.
Hawaii top court approves controversial Thirty Meter Telescope
Hawaii's Supreme Court has approved construction of what will be one of the world's largest single telescopes, on the controversial site of Mauna Kea.
Work on the $1.4bn (£1bn) Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) had paused in 2015 after protests from some native Hawaiians, to whom the land is sacred.
The state's top court ruled 4-1 in favour of the scientists on Tuesday.
Mauna Kea already has 13 telescopes; activists say their construction has interfered with cultural practices.
For years, protesters - including some environmentalists - have said building what is planned to be the world's biggest telescope on a site already saturated with observatories would further desecrate and pollute the sacred mountain.
On Tuesday, Hawaii's Governor David Ige thanked the top court for its ruling in a statement, saying he believes the decision is "fair".
Previously: Protests Temporarily Halt Thirty-Meter Telescope's Construction in Hawaii
Hawaiian Court Revokes Permit for Construction of Thirty-Meter-Telescope
Thirty Meter Telescope Considering Move as Hawaii Officials Open Hearing
Related: National Academies Report Urges Increased Study of Exoplanets in Order to Search for Alien Life
(Score: 5, Informative) by takyon on Friday November 02 2018, @03:19AM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Meter_Telescope [wikipedia.org]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]