Teide Observatory (Spanish: Observatorio del Teide), IAU code 954, is an astronomical observatoryonMount Teide at 2,390 metres (7,840 ft), located on Tenerife, Spain. It has been operated by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias since its inauguration in 1964. It became one of the first major international observatories, attracting telescopes from different countries around the world because of the good astronomical seeing conditions. Later, the emphasis for optical telescopes shifted more towards Roque de los Muchachos ObservatoryonLa Palma.
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| Alternative names | 954 TEN  |
|---|---|
| Organization | |
| Observatory code | 954 |
| Location | Tenerife, Atlantic Ocean, international waters |
| Coordinates | 28°18′00″N 16°30′35″W / 28.3°N 16.5097°W / 28.3; -16.5097 |
| Altitude | 2,390 m (7,840 ft) |
| Established | 1964 |
| Website | www |
| Telescopes |
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  Location of Teide Observatory | |
 Related media on Commons | |
The observatory has a visitors' centre and a residencia (hostel) for astronomers. Brian May helped construct a building there to study interplanetary dust.
The Minor Planet Center credits the discovery of several minor planets directly to the observatory.[6]
| (79484) 1998 FH3 | 18 March 1998 | list |
| (100747) 1998 EO4 | 3 March 1998 | list |
| (175732) 1998 EW8 | 6 March 1998 | list |
| (219078) 1998 GX | 3 April 1998 | list |
| (301883) 1998 EQ9 | 9 March 1998 | list |
| (455329) 2002 PO63 | 12 August 2002 | list |
In 1995, Rafael Rebolo López, María Rosa Zapatero-Osorio and Eduardo L. Martín published their discovery of Teide-1, which they found through optical observations using the 0.8 meter telescope at Teide Observatory.[7]
The position where the observatory is situated has a mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb), with average temperature features reminiscent of southern England. This renders in warm summers that averages around 23 °C (73 °F) with light frosts being possible and sometimes happening in winter. Extremes are moderated by its marine features, which combined with the altitude keeps temperatures below 30 °C (86 °F) even during heat waves, and in spite of the altitude the marine features are strong enough to prevent severe frosts. Sunshine levels, as typical of the nearby lowland arid climates, are high throughout the year. Many alpine areas at further distance from the equator are above the tree line at this elevation, but Teide is far above even any subarctic temperatures due to its position on the 28th parallel north.
| Climate data for Izaña Observatory (1991–2020 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.0 (46.4) |
8.0 (46.4) |
10.1 (50.2) |
12.3 (54.1) |
15.0 (59.0) |
19.0 (66.2) |
23.0 (73.4) |
22.6 (72.7) |
18.7 (65.7) |
14.6 (58.3) |
10.9 (51.6) |
9.2 (48.6) |
14.3 (57.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.9 (40.8) |
4.8 (40.6) |
6.5 (43.7) |
8.2 (46.8) |
10.7 (51.3) |
14.4 (57.9) |
18.2 (64.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
14.5 (58.1) |
10.9 (51.6) |
7.7 (45.9) |
6.1 (43.0) |
10.4 (50.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.8 (35.2) |
1.6 (34.9) |
2.9 (37.2) |
4.1 (39.4) |
6.4 (43.5) |
9.9 (49.8) |
13.5 (56.3) |
13.4 (56.1) |
10.3 (50.5) |
7.2 (45.0) |
4.5 (40.1) |
3.0 (37.4) |
6.6 (43.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 55.6 (2.19) |
49.7 (1.96) |
32.9 (1.30) |
18.8 (0.74) |
3.8 (0.15) |
0.5 (0.02) |
0.0 (0.0) |
9.5 (0.37) |
5.6 (0.22) |
33.1 (1.30) |
50.6 (1.99) |
60.3 (2.37) |
320.4 (12.61) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.6 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 30.7 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 45.9 | 50.2 | 45.8 | 42.6 | 35.2 | 28.3 | 22.0 | 28.0 | 40.5 | 52.5 | 52.7 | 49.3 | 41.1 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 246.5 | 247.5 | 300.5 | 323.3 | 379.8 | 398.9 | 402.4 | 371.8 | 319.8 | 277.1 | 236.6 | 233.1 | 3,737.3 |
| Source: NOAA/NCEI[8] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Izaña Observatory (altitude 2369m, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1920–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.3 (64.9) |
19.9 (67.8) |
22.0 (71.6) |
23.0 (73.4) |
26.0 (78.8) |
27.7 (81.9) |
30.4 (86.7) |
29.6 (85.3) |
27.2 (81.0) |
24.6 (76.3) |
20.8 (69.4) |
20.1 (68.2) |
30.4 (86.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.5 (45.5) |
8.0 (46.4) |
10.2 (50.4) |
11.8 (53.2) |
14.5 (58.1) |
18.9 (66.0) |
23.0 (73.4) |
22.6 (72.7) |
18.6 (65.5) |
14.3 (57.7) |
11.1 (52.0) |
8.8 (47.8) |
14.1 (57.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.3 (39.7) |
4.7 (40.5) |
6.4 (43.5) |
7.6 (45.7) |
10.1 (50.2) |
14.4 (57.9) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.2 (64.8) |
14.5 (58.1) |
10.6 (51.1) |
7.8 (46.0) |
5.6 (42.1) |
10.2 (50.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.1 (34.0) |
1.3 (34.3) |
2.7 (36.9) |
3.5 (38.3) |
5.8 (42.4) |
9.9 (49.8) |
14.0 (57.2) |
13.8 (56.8) |
10.4 (50.7) |
6.9 (44.4) |
4.5 (40.1) |
2.4 (36.3) |
6.4 (43.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −8.0 (17.6) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
−9.1 (15.6) |
−8.2 (17.2) |
−5.1 (22.8) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
1.2 (34.2) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−6.8 (19.8) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 47 (1.9) |
67 (2.6) |
58 (2.3) |
18 (0.7) |
7 (0.3) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
5 (0.2) |
13 (0.5) |
37 (1.5) |
54 (2.1) |
60 (2.4) |
392 (15.4) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 5.6 | 33.4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 50 | 54 | 48 | 45 | 40 | 32 | 25 | 30 | 43 | 55 | 54 | 52 | 44 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 226 | 223 | 260 | 294 | 356 | 382 | 382 | 358 | 295 | 259 | 220 | 218 | 3,473 |
| Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[9][10] | |||||||||||||
The useful observing time is given as 78% and the median FWHM seeing from DIMM measurements is given as 0.76" and 0.70" at two sites near the Carlos Sánchez Telescope.[11]
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