The Aerospace Sector Continues to Flourish in the Canary Islands

The Transient Survey Telescope (TST), a robotic telescope funded through a public-private partnership in the Canary Islands, has commenced its observations at the Teide Observatory in Tenerife. This scientific installation, developed locally through a collaboration between the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and Tenerife-based company Light Bridges, aims to advance our understanding of Near Earth Objects (NEOs) and other transient astronomical phenomena.

The IAC reports that the initial observations have been successful. Miquel Serra-Ricart, the scientific director of Light Bridges and an affiliated researcher at the IAC, noted that the TST’s large field of view will enable early detection of NEOs, supernovae, and optical counterparts of gamma-ray bursts. He highlighted that the TST is set to become an “excellent” scientific instrument, ideal for observational projects requiring short integrations and a wide field without compromising limiting magnitude.

The agreement between Light Bridges and the IAC includes the installation, management, and scientific exploitation of the TST infrastructure; covering the common service expenses at the Teide Observatory; and allocating 25% of the observation time to the IAC as stipulated by the 1979 International Cooperation in Astrophysics Treaty.

The TST features a QHY411 camera with a 151-megapixel sCMOS sensor installed at the primary focus, making it the first wide-field telescope of its kind to operate in the Canary observatories.

The TST project has received support from the Canary Islands Government, the Spanish Tax Agency, the Canary Islands Special Zone Consortium, and the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, alongside backing from Cajasiete, KPMG Advisors, and the legal firm Four Law.

Source: La Vanguardia