News | Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab

Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab Tours have been recognized by Tripadvisor in 2025 as among the Top 10% of Things to Do Worldwide

Award-Winning Experience!

Technicians loading chunks of glass onto the honeycomb casting mold

A workplace like no other: Making the world's largest telescope mirrors

The Universe Awaits, Giant Magellan Telescope

Giant Magellan Telescope advances to National Science Foundation final design phase

Highly reflective, silvery surface, finished mirror for the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's telescope

U of A astronomers celebrate first look at the universe from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory

UA Making Biggest Mirrors for World's Biggest Telescope

Colossal telescope coming into focus

$20 Million Gift

Giant Mirror Presents a Unique, Oversize Load

The telescope looking for the beginning of time

Polishing Off a Mirror

Mirror, Mirror

Grinding glass at the Steward Mirror Lab in Tucson, Arizona

$20 Million Gift Pushes UA Closer to the Stars

Making Super-Telescopes Requires Some Creative Engineering

UA Optics at Heart of Telescope Poised to Catch the Action in the Universe

UA Optics at Heart of Telescope Poised to Catch the Action in the Universe