The Thirty Meter Telescope will be the world's largest when it's finished in 2018, at the summit of Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii. The telescope, known as TMT, will be able to observe planets that orbit stars other than the sun and enable astronomers to watch new planets and stars being formed. It will also help scientists see some 13 billion light years away for a glimpse into the early years of the universe.

The University of California system, the California Institute of Technology and the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy founded the telescope, which is expected to be finished in 2018. A number of countries including Japan, China, and India have joined the efforts to build the giant telescope which is projected to cost $1 billion.