Teide Observatory

Teide Observatory
Organization Observatorio Astronómico de Canarias
Code 954
Coordinates 28°18′00″N 16°30′35″W / 28.3°N 16.5097°W / 28.3; -16.5097Coordinates: 28°18′00″N 16°30′35″W / 28.3°N 16.5097°W / 28.3; -16.5097
Altitude 2,390 m (7,840 ft)
Established 1964
Website www.iac.es/eno.php?op1=3&lang=en
Telescopes ESA Space Debris Telescope, Vacuum Tower Telescope, Very Small Array, COSMOSOMAS
Related media on Wikimedia Commons

Teide Observatory (Spanish: Observatorio del Teide), IAU code 954, is an astronomical observatory on Mount Teide at 2,390 metres (7,840 ft), located on Tenerife, Spain. It is operated by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias since its inauguration in 1964. It became one of the first major international observatories, attracting telescopes from different countries around the world because of the good astronomical seeing conditions. Later the emphasis for optical telescopes shifted more towards Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma.

Telescopes

Solar telescopes

THÉMIS
Testing laser systems on the ESO Wendelstein Laser Guide Star system.[1]

Nocturnal telescopes

Radio telescopes for cosmic microwave background astronomy

Other buildings on the site

The observatory has a visitors' centre and a residencia (hostel) for astronomers. Brian May helped construct a building there to study interplanetary dust.

List of discovered minor planets

The Minor Planet Center credits the discovery of several minor planets directly to the observatory.[5]

(79484) 1998 FH3 18 March 1998 list
(100747) 1998 EO4 3 March 1998 list
(175732) 1998 EW8 6 March 1998 list
(219078) 1998 GX 3 April 1998 list
(301883) 1998 EQ9 9 March 1998 list
(455329) 2002 PO63 12 August 2002 list

Climate

The position where the observatory is situated has a mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb), with average temperature features reminiscent of southern England. This renders in warm summers that averages around 23 °C (73 °F) with light frosts being possible and sometimes happening in winter. Extremes are moderated by its marine features, which combined with the altitude keeps temperatures below 30 °C (86 °F) even during heat waves, and in spite of the altitude the marine features are strong enough to prevent severe frosts. Sunshine levels, as typical of the nearby lowland arid climates, are high throughout the year. Many alpine areas at further distance from the equator are above the tree line at this elevation, but Teide is far above even any subarctic temperatures due to its position on the 28th parallel north.

Climate data for Izaña Observatory (1981-2010) (altitude: 2371 m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 18.3
(64.9)
19.9
(67.8)
22.0
(71.6)
23.0
(73.4)
26.0
(78.8)
27.7
(81.9)
30.4
(86.7)
29.6
(85.3)
27.2
(81)
23.0
(73.4)
20.8
(69.4)
20.1
(68.2)
30.4
(86.7)
Average high °C (°F) 7.5
(45.5)
8.0
(46.4)
10.2
(50.4)
11.8
(53.2)
14.5
(58.1)
18.9
(66)
23.0
(73.4)
22.6
(72.7)
18.6
(65.5)
14.3
(57.7)
11.1
(52)
8.8
(47.8)
14.1
(57.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.3
(39.7)
4.7
(40.5)
6.4
(43.5)
7.6
(45.7)
10.1
(50.2)
14.4
(57.9)
18.5
(65.3)
18.2
(64.8)
14.5
(58.1)
10.6
(51.1)
7.8
(46)
5.6
(42.1)
10.2
(50.4)
Average low °C (°F) 1.1
(34)
1.3
(34.3)
2.7
(36.9)
3.5
(38.3)
5.8
(42.4)
9.9
(49.8)
14.0
(57.2)
13.8
(56.8)
10.4
(50.7)
6.9
(44.4)
4.5
(40.1)
2.4
(36.3)
6.4
(43.5)
Record low °C (°F) −8.0
(17.6)
−9.8
(14.4)
−9.1
(15.6)
−8.2
(17.2)
−5.1
(22.8)
−1.4
(29.5)
−0.2
(31.6)
1.2
(34.2)
0.0
(32)
−3.0
(26.6)
−4.0
(24.8)
−6.8
(19.8)
−9.8
(14.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 47
(1.85)
67
(2.64)
58
(2.28)
18
(0.71)
7
(0.28)
1
(0.04)
0
(0)
5
(0.2)
13
(0.51)
37
(1.46)
54
(2.13)
60
(2.36)
367
(14.46)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 5 4 4 3 1 0 0 1 2 4 4 6 34
Average relative humidity (%) 50 54 48 45 40 32 25 30 43 55 54 52 44
Mean monthly sunshine hours 226 223 260 294 356 382 382 358 295 259 220 218 3,473
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[6]

See also

ESO and Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias sign agreement on adaptive optics collaboration.[7]

References

  • Rayrole, J. (1985). "The European observatory at the Canary Islands". 233: 32–50. doi:10.1007/BFb0022394. 
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