Indian astronomers plan to join a project to build the world’s largest telescope on Mauna Kea.

The Thirty Meter Telescope said Friday that India’s Department of Science and Technology is due to become an observer, the first step on the way to becoming a partner.

The telescope is being built by the University of California, the California Institute of Technology and the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy.

Astronomers in China and Japan also are participating.

The University of Hawaii’s Board of Regents is due to vote on the project Monday. It must give its approval because it owns the lease on the land where the telescope is to be built.