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.

Galileo National Telescope
The dome of the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo near time of sunset
Alternative namesTNG
Part ofRoque de los Muchachos Observatory 
Location(s)La Palma, Atlantic Ocean, international waters
Coordinates28°45′14″N 17°53′17″W
OrganizationNational Institute for Astrophysics 
Observatory code Z19 
Altitude2,370 m (7,780 ft)
BuiltOctober 1993–June 1996 (October 1993–June 1996)
First light1998 
Telescope styleRitchey–Chrétien telescope 
Diameter3.58 m (11 ft 9 in)
Secondary diameter0.875 m (2 ft 10.4 in)
Collecting area12 m2 (130 sq ft)
Focal length38.5 m (126 ft 4 in)
Mountingaltazimuth mount 
Websitewww.tng.iac.es
Location of Galileo National Telescope
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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.

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