Hawaii moved a step closer to becoming the home of the world’s largest telescope when the state Board of Land and Natural Resources unanimously approved the plan this weekend.

The thirty-meter telescope, which is scheduled to be completed in 2018, will have a single primary mirror that measures 30 meters across and is made up of 492 segments. This will give the telescope nine times more collecting surface than the biggest telescopes on Earth today. This astronomical giant will even surpass the Hubble telescope in many ways, as it will be able to give scientists a completely new view of some of the oldest galaxies and stars that are our neighbors in space.

Mauna Kea, which is already home to world-class telescopes including the Keck and Subaru, was selected as the venue from among five locations across the world based on assessments of climate and atmosphere. According to Edward Stone, Caltech physicist and vice chairman of the TMT board, “In the final analysis, the board selected Mauna Kea as the site for TMT. The atmospheric conditions, low average temperatures, and very low humidity will open an exciting new discovery space using adaptive optics and infrared observations.”

There has been some opposition to the project with native Hawaiians saying that such construction would defile Mauna Kea’s sacred summit. Environmental bodies are also against the project claiming that it would harm the rare Wekiu bug.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources has granted a request by opponents for a case hearing on the telescope.