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.
The dome of the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo near time of sunset | |
| Alternative names | TNG |
|---|---|
| Part of | Roque de los Muchachos Observatory |
| Location(s) | La Palma, Atlantic Ocean, international waters |
| Coordinates | 28°45′14″N 17°53′17″W |
| Organization | National Institute for Astrophysics |
| Observatory code | Z19 |
| Altitude | 2,370 m (7,780 ft) |
| Built | October 1993–June 1996 |
| First light | 1998 |
| Telescope style | Ritchey–Chrétien telescope |
| Diameter | 3.58 m (11 ft 9 in) |
| 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 in) |
| Mounting | altazimuth mount |
| Website | www |
Location of Galileo National Telescope | |
| Related media on Commons | |
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.