Gran Telescopio Canarias
Alternative names | GranTeCan |
---|---|
Part of | Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures Roque de los Muchachos Observatory |
Location(s) | La Palma, Garafía, La Palma, Spain |
Coordinates | 28°45′24″N 17°53′31″W / 28.75661°N 17.89203°W |
Organization | Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias National Autonomous University of Mexico University of Florida |
Observatory code | Z18 |
Altitude | 2,267 m (7,438 ft) |
Built | 2002–2008 |
First light | 13 July 2007 |
Telescope style | optical telescope Ritchey–Chrétien telescope segmented mirror |
Diameter | 10.4 m (34 ft 1 in) |
Collecting area | 78.54 m2 (845.4 sq ft) |
Focal length | 169.9 m (557 ft 5 in) |
Website | www |
Related media on Commons | |
The Gran Telescopio Canarias (GranTeCan or GTC) is a 10.4 m (410 in) reflecting telescope located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the island of La Palma, in the Canary Islands, Spain. It is the world's largest single-aperture optical telescope.[1]
Construction of the telescope took seven years and cost €130 million.[2][3] Its installation was hampered by weather conditions and the logistical difficulties of transporting equipment to such a remote location.[4] First light was achieved in 2007 and scientific observations began in 2009.[citation needed]
The GTC Project is a partnership formed by several institutions from Spain and Mexico, the University of Florida, the National Autonomous University of Mexico,[5] and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC). Planning for the construction of the telescope, which started in 1987, involved more than 1,000 people from 100 companies.[3] The division of telescope time reflects the structure of its financing: 90% Spain, 5% Mexico and 5% the University of Florida.
History
First light
The GTC began its preliminary observations on 13 July 2007, using 12 segments of its primary mirror, made of Zerodur glass-ceramic by the German company Schott AG. Later, the number of segments was increased to a total of 36 hexagonal segments fully controlled by an active optics control system, working together as a reflective unit.[4][6] Its first instrument was the Optical System for Imaging and low Resolution Integrated Spectroscopy (OSIRIS). Scientific observations began in May 2009.[7]
Inauguration ceremony
The Gran Telescopio Canarias formally opened its shutters on July 24, 2009, inaugurated by King
MEGARA
MEGARA (Multi-Espectrografo en GTC de Alta Resolucion para Astronomia) is an optical
CanariCam
The University of Florida's CanariCam was a mid-
CanariCam is designed as a
CanariCam used a two-stage closed cycle cryocooler system to cool the cold optics and cryostat interior to approximately 28 K (−245 °C; −409 °F), and the detector itself to around 8 K (−265 °C; −445 °F), the temperature at which the detector worked most efficiently. CanariCam was decommissioned as of February 2021[update].[11]
OSIRIS
The IAC's OSIRIS (Optical System for Imaging and low Resolution Integrated Spectroscopy), is an imager and
See also
- Other observatory sites
- Lists and comparisons
References
- ^ Klotz, Irene (2009-07-24). "New telescope is world's largest ... for now".
- ^ Alvarez, P. "The GTC Project. Present and Future" (PDF). pp. 1–8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ^ a b Moreno, Carlos (2009-07-25). "Huge telescope opens in Spain's Canary Islands".[dead link]
- ^ a b "Tests begin on Canaries telescope". BBC. 14 July 2007.
- ^ Sánchez y Sánchez, Beatriz (2009-10-10). "México en el Gran Telescopio Canarias" [Mexico in the Gran Telescopio Canarias]. Revista Digital Universitaria, UNAM (in Spanish).
- ^ Giant telescope begins scouring space July 14, 2007 Archived May 11, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "El Gran Telescopio CANARIAS comienza a producir sus primeros datos científicos". Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias • IAC (in Spanish). 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ Moreno, Carlos (July 24, 2009). "Huge telescope opens in Spain's Canary Islands". PhysOrg.
- ^ "MEGARA instrument". guaix.fis.ucm.es. Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
- . Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ "Observed for the first time a jet of gas as it emerges from the central star of a planetary nebula | Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía - CSIC".
- ^ "Instruments Osiris". Gtc.iac.es. Gran Telescopio Canarias.
External links
- Gran Telescopio Canarias
- GTC News
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)
- University of Florida CanariCam Archived 2016-11-24 at the Wayback Machine
- (in Spanish) Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de México
- (in Spanish) Instituto de Astronomía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
- CBC article—Giant Canary Islands telescope captures first light
- Images
- Gran Telescopo Canarias inauguration press dossier (in English)
- Merrifield, Michael. "Gran Telescopio Canarias". Deep Sky Videos. Brady Haran.