Galileo National Telescope

The Galileo National Telescope is a Ritchey-Chrétien instrument with a 3.58-meter primary mirror located at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory at 2,370 meters elevation on the island of La Palma. The high altitude and dry climate of the Canary Islands provide excellent conditions for observing the night sky.

The facility began operating in June 1996 and marked a significant milestone for Italian astronomy as the first major research telescope built outside Italy. The Canary Islands location was selected because of its superior atmospheric conditions for precise astronomical observation.

The facility is named after Italian scientist Galileo Galilei and reflects a partnership between Spanish and Italian research institutions. This collaboration brings together astronomers from both countries who work side by side at the observatory.

Access to the telescope is reserved for scientific research, and interested researchers must submit proposals for observing time. Proposal reviews happen twice yearly, so advance planning of research projects is necessary.

The telescope is equipped with specialized instruments such as HARPS-N, which detects planets orbiting distant stars and helps astronomers search for potentially habitable worlds. Such sophisticated equipment enables discoveries that would be impossible with simpler tools.

Location: Garafía

Official opening: June 29, 1996

Elevation above the sea: 2,370 m

Diameter: 3.58 m

Part of: Roque de los Muchachos Observatory

Website: http://tng.iac.es

GPS coordinates: 28.75400,-17.88814

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:54