The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), set to be operational by 2028, will significantly enhance our ability to study exoplanetary atmospheres. With a 39-meter primary mirror, it will provide images 16 times sharper than the Hubble Space Telescope. Simulations indicate that the ELT could detect signs of life on an Earth-like planet around Proxima Centauri in just 10 hours. It will also distinguish between different planetary atmospheres, reducing the risk of false positives or negatives in detecting life.
