Galileo National Telescope

Galileo National Telescope

The dome of the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo near time of sunset
Alternative names TNG
Observatory Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
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Location(s) La Palma[1], Spain[1]
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Coordinates 28°45′14″N 17°53′17″W / 28.754°N 17.88814°W / 28.754; -17.88814Coordinates: 28°45′14″N 17°53′17″W / 28.754°N 17.88814°W / 28.754; -17.88814[1]
Organization INAF
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Observatory code Z19
Altitude 2,370 m (7,780 ft) [1]
Built October 1993–June 1996 (October 1993–June 1996)[2][3]
First light 1998
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Telescope style optical telescope
Ritchey–Chrétien telescope
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[1]
Diameter 3.58 m (11 ft 9 in)[4]
Secondary diameter 0.875 m (2 ft 10.4 in)
Collecting area 12 m2 (130 sq ft)
Focal length 38.5 m (126 ft) [4]
Mounting altazimuth mount [1]
Website www.tng.iac.es
Location of Galileo National Telescope

The Galileo National Telescope, (Italian: Telescopio Nazionale Galileo; TNG; code: Z19) is a 3.58-meter Italian telescope, located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain. The TNG is operated by the "Fundación Galileo Galilei, Fundación Canaria", a non-profit institution, on behalf of the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF). The telescope saw first light in 1998 and is named after the Italian Renaissance astronomer Galileo Galilei.

Observations at the TNG can be proposed through the Italian Time Allocation Committee (TAC) which assigns, based on the scientific merit of the proposals, 75% of the available time. The rest of the time is at disposal of the Spanish and international astronomical communities. The TNG is open to new proposals two times a year, typically in March–April and September–October.

Technical characteristics

The TNG is an altazimuthal reflecting telescope with a Ritchey-Chretien optical configuration and a flat tertiary mirror feeding two opposite Nasmyth foci. It has a design derived from the New Technology Telescope (NTT), an ESO 4-meters class telescope located in La Silla (Chile). Therefore, the optical quality of the telescope is ensured by an active optics system performing real-time corrections of the optical components and compensating, in particular, for the deformations of the primary mirror, which is too thin to be completely rigid.

The interface between the telescope fork and the instruments at both Nasmyth foci is provided by two rotator/adapters. Their main function is to compensate for the field rotation by a mechanical counter rotation. The best quality of the TNG is that all the available instruments are permanently mounted at the telescope. This guarantees flexibility during an observing session, since it is possible to change instrument during the night with a loss of time limited to a few minutes.

The science based on observational data from the TNG is varied. Proposed observing programs go from the study of the planets and minor bodies of the solar system up to researches of cosmological interest (e.g. large-scale structure of the Universe and systems of galaxies).

Scientific instruments

The TNG is equipped with four instruments:

Decommissioned instruments:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "TNG Technical Specifications". Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  2. ↑ "Construction Phases". Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  3. ↑ "Telescope Assembling". Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Telescopio Nazionale GALILEO". Retrieved 17 May 2017.
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