Vacuum Tower Telescope, Solar telescope at Teide Observatory, Tenerife, Spain.
The Vacuum Tower Telescope is a solar observation instrument with a 70-centimeter mirror located at Teide Observatory on Tenerife. Its design allows astronomers to capture detailed images of the sun's surface and study various solar phenomena.
Construction of this instrument took place from 1983 to 1986, with operations beginning in 1988 as part of German solar research efforts. Over time it became one of Europe's major centers for studying the sun.
This research facility serves as a meeting point for solar scientists from around the world who come to study the sun together. The collaborative work here has shaped how people worldwide understand solar activity and its effects on Earth.
This facility sits at high altitude where dry, clear skies provide optimal conditions for solar observation year-round. Visitors should prepare for cooler temperatures and strong sun exposure at this location.
This instrument uses an advanced adaptive optics system called KAOS that sharpens views of the sun's surface in real time. This technology allows researchers to see small-scale details that would otherwise blur due to Earth's atmosphere.
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