Professional astronomers use large telescopes all over the world, and even in space. Most of the largest ground-based reflecting telescopes are concentrated in Hawaii, Chile, and the Canary Islands that take advantage of the dark skies and superior seeing conditions created by high elevations, dry and steady airflow, and great distances from city lights. You will also find large relfecting telescopes in the United States (California, Arizona and Texas among other states), South Africa, Russia, Australia, China and other countries. Check out this list of large reflecting telescopes with primary mirrors that range in size from 15 to 2.2 meters in diameter for one that might be located near you, or plan your next vacation to visit one.

To view the details of any telescope in this list, please click on the name of the telescope. You can also sort the telescopes, by clicking on the table headings.

Telescope	Location	Country	Size (m)
UKIRT	Mauna Kea, Hawaii	USA	3.8
AEOS	Maui, Hawaii	USA	3.67
Canada-France-Hawaii	Mauna Kea, Hawaii	USA	3.6
ARC	Apache Point, New Mexico	USA	3.5
WIYN	Kitt Peak, Arizona	USA	3.5
Starfire	Kirtland AFB, New Mexico	USA	3.5
Shane	Mount Hamilton, California	USA	3
NASA IRTF	Mauna Kea, Hawaii	USA	3
Harlan Smith	Mt. Locke, Texas	USA	2.7
Hooker	Mt. Wilson, California	USA	2.5
Sloan Digital Sky Survey	Apache Point, New Mexico	USA	2.5
CHARA	Mt. Wilson, California	USA	2.45
Hiltner	Kitt Peak, Arizona	USA	2.4
Hubble Space Telescope	Low Earth orbit	USA	2.4
WIRO	Jelm Mountain, Wyoming	USA	2.3
Bok	Kitt Peak, Arizona	USA	2.3
UH	Mauna Kea, Hawaii	USA	2.2
James Clerk Maxwell	Mauna Kea, Hawaii	USA	15