ESA Optical Ground Station, Research telescope at Teide Observatory, Spain
The ESA Optical Ground Station is a research facility in Tenerife that houses a one-meter telescope designed for observing distant objects and collecting light signals from satellites and space debris. The instrument operates with a very long focal length to capture fine details and measure the brightness of objects too faint to see with the naked eye.
The European Space Agency established this ground station to monitor satellite communication and track objects in space. Over time it became a hub for multiple types of space environment monitoring and research.
Scientists from multiple nations gather at this facility to advance space research through international cooperation and data exchange programs.
The facility sits at high elevation on a plateau with excellent conditions for observing the sky. Access is limited because it operates as a secure research installation with restricted visiting hours.
The facility receives light signals from a distant sender on another island for quantum communication testing. This type of experiment is extremely rare and shows how space agencies are developing new technologies for future satellite networks.
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