Anna Hartz
For decades, large space telescopes were the domain of governments.
They required massive budgets, long timelines, and international cooperation. Projects like Hubble took years to plan and launch, and most private organizations could only dream of competing. That is beginning to change.
A Private Telescope
In 2026, Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, and his wife Wendy announced a new astronomy program funded by their Schmidt Sciences foundation, according to Ziare. The project aims to build a space telescope outside of any government program. It also includes three ground-based instruments that will work together with the telescope. The goal is to give scientists broad access to advanced observational tools.
The centerpiece of the program is a telescope called Lazuli. It has a 3.1-meter mirror, larger than Hubble’s 2.4-meter mirror. That extra size means Lazuli can gather about 70% more light. This allows the telescope to see fainter objects and make more precise observations. It also increases the chances of spotting rare cosmic events.
Lazuli is designed for two main areas of research. One is exoplanets. The telescope will have a coronagraph, a device that blocks out a star’s light to let astronomers see nearby planets directly. The second focus is transient cosmic events. These include supernovae and other explosions that appear and disappear quickly.
Comparable to Hubble
Lazuli can also help calibrate supernovae to improve measurements of the universe’s expansion. The Schmidt program takes advantage of cheaper space launches and standard production components. This reduces costs and lowers risks. The team believes that private funding can now make a telescope comparable to a Hubble-class observatory possible.
Experts say this model could change the way astronomy works. Instead of decades-long government projects, smaller private foundations might be able to launch ambitious observatories. This could accelerate discoveries and give more scientists access to high-quality data.
If successful, Lazuli could usher in a new era of privately funded space telescopes. It could also encourage other organizations to explore the universe without waiting for government approval or huge budgets. Private telescopes might soon become a permanent part of modern astronomy.
Sources: Ziare
