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Scientific Opportunities with the Giant Magellan Telescope Patrick McCarthy Carnegie Observatories Abstract I will describe the scientific potential of the 20m GMT project. This telescope builds on the legacy of the two 6.5m Magellan telescopes at Las Campanas. The unique design of the GMT makes it particularly well suited for exoplanet searches using high dynamic range adaptive optics. The Gregorian configuration of the telescope allows for ground-layer conjugation, allowing a 20m to compete with a 30m telescope for sky-limited observations. I will review the major areas of the science case for the GMT and the salient technical features of the baseline design. |