The ORM houses an extensive network of optical, infrared and high-energy telescopes, operated by scientific institutions from more than 20 countries. Thanks to its advanced infrastructure, it has been instrumental in research on exoplanets, cosmology, high-energy astrophysics, and stellar and galactic evolution.

In this article we explore the history of the ORM, its main facilities and the contribution of the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), which recently reached the milestone of 1 000 scientific publications.

Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC): A Milestone in Modern Astrophysics

Design and Capabilities of the GTC

The Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), also known as ‘GRANTECAN’, is the largest optical-infrared telescope in the world. Its 10.4-metre primary mirror, composed of 36 hexagonal segments, allows it to capture an unprecedented amount of light, achieving exceptional resolution and sensitivity.

The GTC is equipped with a series of state-of-the-art instruments that allow it to address a wide range of astronomical research:
* OSIRIS (Optical System for Imaging and low-Intermediate-Resolution Integrated Spectroscopy): high-sensitivity spectrograph and camera, ideal for the study of distant galaxies.
* MEGARA (Multi-Espectrógrafo en GTC de Alta Resolución para Astronomía): Allows integral field spectroscopy in great detail.
* EMIR (Multi-Object Infrared Spectrograph): Designed for the study of star formation in the early universe.

Scientific Milestone: 1,000 Scientific Publications

The GTC has recently reached a record 1,000 scientific publications, consolidating its position as one of the most productive infrastructures in astrophysics worldwide. Its studies have covered a wide variety of fields:
1. cosmology and galaxy formation: the GTC has made it possible to analyse galaxies at redshifts greater than 7, providing key information about the early universe and cosmic reionisation.
2. Characterisation of exoplanets: Using high-resolution spectroscopy, the GTC has detected the atmospheric composition of exoplanets, identifying the presence of water, methane and carbon dioxide in planetary atmospheres outside the Solar System.
Supernovae and transient events: The telescope has been crucial in the study of supernovae, detecting and characterising stellar explosions that help to understand the evolution of massive stars and the production of heavy elements in the universe.
4. Gravitational waves and high-energy events: The GTC has been used for the optical follow-up of neutron star mergers detected by LIGO and Virgo, helping to identify the kilonovae that result from these events.

The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory at the Forefront of Astronomy

The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory is a global benchmark in the exploration of the universe. With a state-of-the-art infrastructure, constantly evolving projects and the scientific success of the Gran Telescopio Canarias, La Palma continues to be one of the most privileged locations for astronomical research.

As the ORM prepares to receive new telescopes and next generation technologies, its role in advancing knowledge about the cosmos will continue to grow. With the TMT, the EST and the development of the CTA network, the future of astrophysics on La Palma is more promising than ever.

Interested in astrophysics?

If you are an astronomy enthusiast or professional, visiting the ORM, Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos is an unique experience. Its access to some of the most advanced telescopes in the world and its role in the most recent discoveries make this place an essential destination for any lover of the cosmos.

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Astrotourism is a form of tourism that combines a passion for travel with the observation of the night sky, allowing astronomy enthusiasts to enjoy unique experiences under starry skies. The astroturism in La Palma, has consolidated its position as a world reference in this field thanks to its exceptional natural conditions and its firm commitment to preserving the quality of its skies.

Astrotourism in La Palma: Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination

Since 1988, the island has had a specific law to protect the purity of its night sky, avoiding light pollution and guaranteeing clear views of the stars. This dedication has allowed La Palma to be recognised as a Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination, highlighting its suitability for astronomical observation.

Roque de los Muchachos Observatory: a benchmark in Astrotourism

On the highest point of the island is the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, an internationally renowned facility that forms part of the network of Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructures of Spain. This observatory houses some of the most advanced telescopes in the world and is a nerve centre for global astronomical research.

Astronomy Tour: discover the sky of La Palma

For visitors interested in exploring the cosmos, specialised companies such as AstroLaPalma offer a range of actities. Guided visits to the observatory, for example, provide the opportunity to get to know the workings of the telescopes up close and understand the relevance of the research being carried out there. They also organise astrophotography sessions or Astronomy Tours: stargazing tours that allow you to enjoy the majesty of the starry sky of La Palma, using telescopes and under the guidance of certified experts.

La Palma, the ideal destination for Astrotourism

The combination of a privileged natural environment, first class scientific infrastructures and specialised tourist services make La Palma the ideal destination for lovers of the sky and astro-tourism. Whether walking along its paths at nightfall or taking part in a night-time observation, the island offers unforgettable experiences that bring visitors closer to the immensity of the universe.

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The Promenade of Stars of Science is an original idea of Anselmo Pestana, the President of the Island Council back in 2015, when the project started. The Cabildo Insular de la Palma, the Santa Cruz Town Hall and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias are participating in the project. Unfortunately, the Prominade has taken 5 years to be carried out as first, the remodelling of the beach had to be completed. The event held this December 2020 has revealed the Stars that currently make up the “Paseo de la Ciencia”. The four scientists awarded have personal and professional links with the island, hence, have been the first ones to be acknowledged.

Stephen Hawking

The first star is by Stephen Hawking, a renowned physicist and cosmologist linked to the Starmuss Festival held on La Palma and who was last on the island in 2016, shortly before his death. Hawking, who was the first to receive his star in 2016, is the author of many of the discoveries in modern astrophysics, such as the new theory of space-time and black hole radiation (“Hawking” radiation). Hawking worked throughout his life to unravel the laws that govern the universe and, together with Roger Penrose, he demonstrated that Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity implies that space and time must have a beginning, which would be the theory of the Big Bang, and an end, within black holes.

Alexei Leonov

The second star was for cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov, who has also visited the island several times; Leonov was the first man to go on a space walk, on 18 March 1965, having been part of the first group of 20 cosmonauts in the Soviet space programme, set up in 1960. He was also the Soviet team commander of the first joint mission between the Soviet Union and the United States, Apollo-Soyuz.

Takaaki Kajita

The third Star (awarded in 2017) went to Takaaki Kajita of Japan, director of the Cosmic Neutrinos Centre at the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR), who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2015, along with Arthur B. McDonald for their research on neutrino oscillations. Their research showed that these subatomic particles have mass. As the Swedish Academy’s prize jury pointed out, “their studies changed the understanding of the innermost behaviour of matter and may be crucial for understanding the Universe”.

Kajita is currently leading a major international collaboration project, the “Cherenkov Telescope Array“, which aims to study the gamma radiation that reaches the Earth and how it is produced. La Palma is the northern hemisphere headquarters for this project. Kajita laid the first stone of the prototype (LST) of the 23 telescopes projected on La Palma, just one week after receiving her Nobel Prize.

Samuel Ting

The fourth and last Star awarded to date (2018) has been for Samuel Ting, Nobel Laureate in Physics in 1976. The American particle physicist of Chinese origin belongs to the prestigious MIT in the United States, and has been a professor there since 1969. He received the Nobel Prize in 1976 for the discovery of the J particle, which once again consolidated the standard particle theory. Samuel Ting leads a project for the observation of neutrinos on the Space Station, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-0), with the aim of testing fundamental questions in modern physics including the existence of antimatter, the origin of comic rays and dark matter.

This collaborative project, involving more than 600 physicists, has collected 80 billion cosmic rays in 10 years. Ting’s team also aims to test whether the Big Bang model is true, when it predicts that there should be an equivalent amount of matter and antimatter in the Universe. For the moment, astronomers have not been able to find the antimatter and this is one of the great mysteries of the Universe. This is why many physicists believe that primordial antimatter simply does not exist. AMS-0 could prove whether it exists, or if on the contrary, a completely new theory is needed to explain antimatter or the Big Bang.

Next….Jocelyn Bell

It has been awarded the fifth Star, but unfortunately it has not yet been delivered due to the covid19. The Star is for Jocelyn Bell, the discoverer of the first radio pulsar signal in 1967, what has been an undoubted contribution to science. We will have a special article dedicated to Jocelyn Bell soon.

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If you cannot come to La Palma to see the telescope in sittu or, while the visits to the Observatory are suspended due to the covid19, you can make the visit virtually in the video (language: Spanish). The video explains what the telescope does, how it works and what the real post-covid visits will be like.

More about Science at the Gran Telescopio de Canarias can be found on the official website: http://www.gtc.iac.es/

Visits to the  Observatory at Roque de Los Muchachos will resume in 2021. Information & bookings here. More information about the Observatory on the official website of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC).

Video

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The TNG is equipped with 3 instruments permanently installed in its foci and offers a variety of observing modes covering the optical and near-infrared spectrum, offering wide-field imaging up to high-resolution spectroscopy.

Its most relevant instrument is the HARPS-N “High Precision Radial Speed ​​Planter in the Northern Hemisphere. It is one of the most accurate spectrographs in the world that has the main objective of discovering and characterizing extrasolar planets the size of the Earth (Echelle spectrometer at 383-633 nm wavelengths and with spectral resolution of R = 115000). In practice HARPS-N measures the slight oscillation of the star caused by the presence of the planet (in m/s) with which it can estimate the mass of the exoplanets, their chemical composition and distance to the star.

History

The agreements for the construction of the telescope in La Palma were signed in 1979 and the telescope The telescope saw its “first light” in 1998. Until June 2004, the telescope was operated by the Galileo Galilei Genter, created in 1997 by the Consorzio Nazionale per l’Astronomia e l’Astrofisica (CNAA). From  July 27, 2004, the new Galileo Galilei Foundation, funded by the National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF), is responsible for the management of the TNG.

Results

The TNG is currently looking mainly for exoplanets, a very relevant field in astrophysics at the moment. The first exoplanet discovered by the TNG was the Kepler 78 b, a planet similar to Earth in size and mass but much hotter, surface temperature can reach 5,000 degrees. Another exoplanet also in the news, and found by the TNG (published May 2017), belongs to the star GJ625 (Gliese 625), a red dwarf close to the Sun, is in the area of ​​habitability, which means that could host lifetime. The Kepler 78b and the planet of GJ625 are some of the more than 1,000 already discovered exoplanets (Earth-like planets).

Curiosities

In February 2013, an international team, led by Spanish astrophysicists, characterized the 2012 asteroid DA14 using the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) and the Galileo Nazionale Telescope at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma. They were able to measure the maximum approach to Earth.

In the TNG, all the rooms are kept at a certain temperature, which varies depending on the room. The telescope should be half a degree below the minimum outside temperature recorded the previous night to minimize the airflow around the telescope and avoid turbulence that greatly reduces the image quality caused by the temperature gradient when opening the telescope.

The second building, dome of the telescope is a structure of an approximate height of 26 m. And occupies an area of ​​about 400 m2. The building is entirely made of metal structure, with a fixed first floor, while the other 3 can rotate around the vertical axis of the building, in solidarity, in synchrony with the rotation of the telescope.

In the TNG, all the rooms are kept at a certain temperature, which varies depending on the room.. The telescope should be half a degree below the minimum outside temperature recorded the previous night to minimize the airflow around the telescope and avoid turbulence that greatly reduces the image quality caused by the temperature gradient when opening the telescope.

The second building, dome of the telescope is a structure of an approximate height of 26 m. And occupies an area of ​​about 400 m2. The building is entirely made of metal structure, with a fixed first floor, while the other 3 can rotate around the vertical axis of the building, in solidarity, in synchrony with the rotation of the telescope.

More about the other telescopes at the Observatory Roque de Los Muchachos can be found on the official web of the Observatory. Also here at Gran Telescopio de Canarias and William Herschel Telescope.

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More information

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History

       
The UK’s Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) began planning the telescope in 1974 with a final budget of 10 million pounds. In 1981, 20% of the SERC negotiated a 20% stake with Holland, so the telescope belongs to the United Kingdom and the rest to the Netherlands. The first light of the telescope was on June 1, 1981 using the instrument TAURUS-2.

Results
       
The most outstanding results extracted with data obtained in this telescope are:
       
* The discovery of the first evidence of a supermassive black hole (Sgr A*) in the center of the Milky Way.
   
* The first optical observation of a gamma ray burst

Curiosities

       
* The telescope takes the name of the astronomer William Herschel (Germany 1738 – England 1822), a musician without scientific formation who began his interest in the astronomy to the 35 years of age. This astronomer discovered the planet Uranus with a 1.2m reflecting telescope that built the same along with his sister since he could not afford to buy a refractor telescope of similar size to the use at the time. Herschel was also a pioneer in the design of the azimuth mount that is now used in telescopes like the WHT. In 1981, with the first light of the telescope, was the bicentennial of the discovery of Uranus, hence the telescope bears the name of William Herschel.

* The WHT is like a Swiss Army Knife. In each focus an instrument is placed and in turn has several instruments interchangeable with each other with relative ease. Currently professional astronomers can request observation time for the following instruments:

• • ISIS – espectrograph
  • LIRIS – infrarred espectrograph
  • ACAM – ccd camera and low resolution spectroscopy
  • AF2/WYFFOS – multiobject espectroscopy
  • NAOMI/OASIS – espectroscopy
  • Adaptative optics
  • NAOMI/INGRID – infrarred imaging

More about the other telescopes at the Observatory Roque de Los Muchachos can be found on the official website of the Observatory or at Telescopio Nazionale Galileo and Gran Telescopio de Canarias.

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History

After years in the drawing boards of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, in 1994 GRANTECAN SA when it was founded, with the aim of designing and building the world’s largest telescope: the Gran Telescopio Canarias. Subsequently, agreements were signed with the Government of Mexico, for two of their universities to participate in the project and also joined as a partner the United States, through the University of Florida. The telescope cost no less than 130 million euros and has an annual budget of nearly 9 million Euros.

The construction of the telescope at the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos on the island of La Palma, began in 2000 and the start of the science phase began operating in March 2009. The telescope time is shared by Spanish scientists (90%), Mexico (5%) and the U.S. (5%), the same percentage who contributed to the initial project.

Curiosities

• We can compare the power of sight of the telescope to four million human eyes. It could distinguish the headlights of a car at about 20,000 miles away.
• The metal structure of the dome is assembled with screws 16,000 and 43,000 metal nuts.
• The mirrors are cleaned with powdered snow made of carbon dioxide. There are 6 spare mirrors.
• GTC employs about 65 people or so (about 45 on the island of La Palma alone). There are 4 working groups: maintenance, science, management and development.
• Any day between 10-20 people are working on the telescope, the rest work in offices remotely. However, at night, despite its size, the telescope requires only 2 people to run observations: an astronomer and a technician. It’s all computerized.

Results

The Gran Telescopio de Canarias studies the nature of black holes, star and galaxy formation of a very young Universe. A fairly booming field developed here is the study of distant exoplanets (Planetary Transits) and very energetic events such as: very distant supernovae & black hole collisions.

See scientific publications derived from the Gran Telescopio de Canarias data by clicking here.

More about the other telescopes at the Observatory Roque de Los Muchachos can be found on the official website of the Observatory or at Telescopio Nazionale Galileo and William Herschel Telescope.

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