SUBARU project: current status

The concepts and current status of Japanese 8.2 m optical and IR telescope project, SUBARU, are summarized. SUBARU aims to achieve imaging with very high resolution of 0.2 - 0.1 arc sec, and high observing capability through the wide wavelength region of optical and near-IR. The construction of SUBARU has started in 1991. So far the 8.3 m mirror blank was successfully formed, the construction of the lower fixed part of the enclosure is almost finished, and the main parts of the telescope are being fabricated. The first light of SUBARU is scheduled to be 1998 spring.