Large O canario abierto al cielo

2009/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Teknologia
• Astronomia

On July 24, the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) optical telescope was inaugurated on the island of La Palma. Mirrors of 10.4 meters, formed by 36 small hexagonal fragments, 2,400 meters above sea level.

At the moment, the telescope has a single observation tool, the spectrograph called OSIRIS, and throughout this year they will put the CanariCam camera to capture infrared images. However, the director of GTC, Pedro Álvarez, has expressed his intention to install several devices in the next three or four years. Among other things, they aim to place a near-infrared spectrograph, a high-resolution spectrograph for visual wavelengths and a near-infrared camera capable of damping atmospheric turbulence.

In part, their tools will determine the usefulness of the telescope. In fact, as reported on the NatureNews website, some astronomers question the peculiarities of GTC and what will make it different from other telescopes such as the 10-metre twin Keck.