Isaac Newton Telescope, Optical telescope at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, La Palma, Spain
The Isaac Newton Telescope is a Cassegrain reflecting telescope at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, equipped with a primary mirror measuring 2.54 meters across. The instrument operates with various camera systems and spectrographs for sky observation.
The telescope began operations at Herstmonceux Castle in England in 1967 and moved to La Palma in 1984 to benefit from superior observation conditions. The relocation to the Canary Islands allowed astronomers to study darker and clearer sky areas.
The telescope is jointly operated by research institutions from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Spain, representing a long tradition of international scientific collaboration. This partnership shows how countries combine their resources to explore the universe together.
Researchers operate the telescope independently and need substantial experience with medium-sized astronomical instruments before conducting observations. Visitors should plan ahead since the observatory sits at high altitude in the mountains with limited access options.
The mirror blank for this telescope was a gift from the United States to Britain in 1949 and was ground by Grubb Parsons. This rare origin story connects the instrument to a piece of post-war international scientific partnership.
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