Gran Telescopio Canarias

Gran Telescopio Canarias
	Gran Telescopio Canarias, 2008
Alternative names	GranTeCan
Part of	Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures; Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
Location(s)	La Palma, Garafía, La Palma, Spain
Coordinates	28°45′24″N 17°53′31″W / 28.75661°N 17.89203°W
Organization	Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias; National Autonomous University of Mexico; University of Florida
Observatory code	Z18
Altitude	2,267 m (7,438 ft)
Built	2002–2008
First light	13 July 2007
Telescope style	Ritchey–Chrétien telescope
Diameter	10.4 m (34 ft 1 in)
Collecting area	78.54 m2 (845.4 sq ft)
Focal length	169.9 m (557 ft 5 in)
Website	www.gtc.iac.es
	Location of Gran Telescopio Canarias
	Related media on Commons
	[edit on Wikidata]

The Gran Telescopio Canarias (GranTeCan or GTC) is a 10.4 m (410 in) reflecting telescope located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the island of La Palma, in the Canary Islands, Spain. It is the world's largest single-aperture optical telescope.^[1]

Construction of the telescope took seven years and cost €130 million.^[2]^[3] Its installation was hampered by weather conditions and the logistical difficulties of transporting equipment to such a remote location.^[4] First light was achieved in 2007 and scientific observations began in 2009.^{[citation needed]}

The GTC Project is a partnership formed by several institutions from Spain and Mexico, the University of Florida, the National Autonomous University of Mexico,^[5] and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC). Planning for the construction of the telescope, which started in 1987, involved more than 1,000 people from 100 companies.^[3] The division of telescope time reflects the structure of its financing: 90% Spain, 5% Mexico and 5% the University of Florida.

^ Klotz, Irene (2009-07-24). "New telescope is world's largest ... for now".
^ Alvarez, P. "The GTC Project. Present and Future" (PDF). pp. 1–8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
^ ^a ^b Moreno, Carlos (2009-07-25). "Huge telescope opens in Spain's Canary Islands".^{[dead link]}
^ Cite error: The named reference Tests was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Sánchez y Sánchez, Beatriz (2009-10-10). "México en el Gran Telescopio Canarias" [Mexico in the Gran Telescopio Canarias]. Revista Digital Universitaria, UNAM (in Spanish).

[1] Klotz, Irene (2009-07-24). "New telescope is world's largest ... for now".

[Alvarez-2] Alvarez, P. "The GTC Project. Present and Future" (PDF). pp. 1–8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2009-07-24.

[Moreno-3] Moreno, Carlos (2009-07-25). "Huge telescope opens in Spain's Canary Islands".^{[dead link]}

[Tests-4] Cite error: The named reference Tests was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[5] Sánchez y Sánchez, Beatriz (2009-10-10). "México en el Gran Telescopio Canarias" [Mexico in the Gran Telescopio Canarias]. Revista Digital Universitaria, UNAM (in Spanish).

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]