Although not yet fully functional, the telescope, situated on Spain’s Canary Islands, is scheduled to take the first deep-space pictures this week, during the initial testing program.

The Gran Telescopio Canarias, or GTC, is a multi-national astronomical project that involves the Spanish Government, the University of Florida and two other Mexican institutions. The UF invested about $5 million in the construction of the mastodon, and owns 5% share of the final building, giving UF scientists the right to 20 nights of telescope time annually for observations.

“This is one of the largest international projects that the university is involved in, and first light is certainly a big step for a small department,” said Stan Dermott, astronomy department chairman and one of four UF astronomy faculty members who will attend Friday’s ceremony. UF is the only American institution involved in the project.

According to Dermott, the telescope- worth about $175 million- is made of 36 mirrors of which only 12 have been installed until now, in more than 7 years of work. The final stage of construction will occur sometimes next summer, when the 36 mirrors will compose a larger, more accurate mirror with a size of 34.1 foot. The remaining mirrors are expected to be mounted this year, with the telescope’s grand opening expected to be presided by King Juan Carlos I of Spain.

However, at present time there are enough mirrors installed to allow for initial tests, which will begin at 10 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time Friday (6 p.m. EDT), when Prince Felipe, heir to the Spanish throne, will train the telescope on Polaris, the North Star, for a ceremonial observation to be attended by about 300 people.

Among the attendees will be UF astronomers Charlie Telesco, Rafael Guzman and Anthony Gonzalez, as well as Tom Walsh, UF director of sponsored research. “This will be the first demonstration that the telescope can produce a focused image of a star,” Dermott, who will also attend, said.