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T5 GranTeCan

This is GranTeCan (Gran Telescopio Canario), the new Spanish telescope on the mountain top. The photo doesn't really give you a sense of scale, but it's huge, with a main mirror 10.4 metres (34 ft) in diameter. Look for the door at the base to get an idea. On July 15th, they had the first light ceremony for it, with the star guests being the crown prince Filipe of Spain and Brian May.

First light doesn't mean that it's working yet. It means that they opened the dome at night and got starlight falling on the mirror. I heard on the grapevine that the optics are extrememly well aligned, better than anyone hoped for, but the telescope can't track stars as they move across the sky yet, and there's certainly no instruments on it yet. It should be open fully in 2008.

The telescopes are only open to the public four days a year. See the Canarian Institute for Astrophysic's web site for details. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)

Digital photo: Pentax K10D.

Eso es GranTeCan (Gran Telescopio Canario), el nuevo telescopio español en el Roque. La foto no da un buen sentido del tamaño, pero es gigante; el espejo principal tiene un diametro de 10,4 metros. hicieron la ceremonia de primer luz en el 15 de julio, 2007, con Filipe, el Principe de Asturias, y Brian May.

Primera luz no quiere decir que el telescopio esta funcionando. Quiere decir que han abierto la cupula de noche y recogieron luz de una estrella con el espejo. Es un paso importante bien logrado, pero el telescopio todavia no sigue estrellas y no tiene instrumentos. Lo inaugararan en 2008.

Los telescopios del observatorios se abren al publico solo unos cuatro dias al año. Para detallas, ver la pagina web del observatorio.Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)

Foto digital: Pentax K10D

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