William Herschel Telescope, Reflecting telescope at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, La Palma, Spain
The William Herschel Telescope is a reflecting telescope with a primary mirror measuring 4.2 meters across, positioned at 2,344 meters elevation on La Palma island. The instrument uses specialized equipment to observe stars and distant galaxies, gathering light that has traveled through space for billions of years.
The telescope was completed in 1987 and became the third largest optical telescope in the world at that time. Planning for this facility had started in the late 1960s, showing how much time major scientific projects require from concept to reality.
The observatory serves as a meeting point where scientists from different countries work together on shared astronomical questions. This international cooperation shapes how the facility operates and reinforces its role as a place where knowledge about the universe is freely exchanged across borders.
The location at Roque de los Muchachos is very high up, which provides excellent viewing conditions but also means the journey there can be demanding. Visitors should prepare for changing weather and intense sun exposure, particularly if spending extended time at the site.
The telescope provided crucial observations that helped reveal the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy. This discovery ranked among the most important astronomical findings of recent decades.
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