DW-TV: "Do you share your colleagues' opinion that the ELT will really be able to detect earthlike planets out there, or possibly even signs of life?"

Gabriele Schönherr: "Well indeed I do believe there will be revolutionary discoveries. If there is really life, we will have to see. But we will find many earthlike candidates with ELT."

"Now, space-based telescopes, like the Hubble, really do have a much better view of the universe. Why aren't we investing the 800 million euros in that direction?"

"I wouldn't agree with saying they have a better view. They, of course, are in space so they don't have the atmosphere to block their view. But, on the other hand, you have limitations in space. The telescopes can't be that large. We have a 42-metre mirror with the ELT in the planning and this would just be too heavy -- you just couldn't move it to space."

"Now the ELT won't just be looking into space -- it will also be looking at light emitted by stars billions of years ago. Are you expecting any surprises in that data?"

"The only thing that we can really observe as astronomers is light. And as the ELT can collect really very great amounts of light we do expect to see things we haven't been able to detect before."

"There are many different kinds of telescopes detecting different kinds of radiation. You, for example, are an expert on X-rays. What information do they provide?"

"X-rays show us a hot universe, a hot and explosive sky. So we see very different objects in X-rays than we do in optical astronomy."

"What do stars and space look like through an X-ray telescope?"

GS: "You would probably be disappointed because, depending on the telescope, it's just a dot. But it can also show structures, moving structures, outflows, jets, very high speeds... It's an amazing view."

"The ELT is a European project. How does astronomy in Europe measure up to other countries?"

"I would say European astronomy can truly say it's at the forefront of modern astronomy research right now. With the Very Large Telescope in Chile, we already have the best performing telescope in action right now. So Europe and the US are both going in the same direction. We can really compare that."

"Now as we said, you're involved in the 2009 Year of Astronomy in Germany, which also involves inspiring students to study in that field. If you were speaking to these students, why would you tell them that astronomy is important?"

"Because astronomy addresses the most fundamental questions of life, of humanity: Where do we come from? Where do we go to? Is there life in the universe? Are we alone? It's just fascinating. I don't think I would even have to tell them that it's important. They'd just believe me by looking at the sky."

Interview: Heather DeLisle