European space watchers are planning a telescope that may help them see things as tiny as plants on other planets. The telescope will be four times as big as any other of the same type, called an optical telescope. The technology — called the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) — will also let astronomers take a look at some of the oldest objects in space. But it will be a while before anyone will be able to use it, as building work won’t start until 2010 or 2011. Even thought European countries are building the telescope it won’t be in Europe, as conditions aren’t right for sky-watching. Instead, South Africa, Tibet, Morocco, Greenland and Antarctica are better options as they are more likely to have cloud-free skies.