A German-Spanish astronomical observatory, the Centro Astronomico Hispano en Andalucia, on the 2,168-meter Calar Alto mountain in the Sierra de Los Filabres, Almeria province, Spain. Proposed in 1970 and officially opened in July 1975 with its first telescope, it now hosts four main telescopes and is used for research ranging from Solar System objects to cosmology, including the ALHAMBRA and CALIFA surveys and the CARMENES exoplanet search.
Facts
Observatory TypeGround-based optical observatory 1 LocationCalar Alto, Sierra de Los Filabres, Almeria province, Spain, 2,168 meters elevation 1 MeasuresOptical and near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy, from Solar System objects to cosmology and exoplanet detection. 1 Operating PrincipleOperates four main telescopes: a 3.5-meter reflector, the largest on mainland Europe, a 2.2-meter reflector, a 1.23-meter reflector, and an 80-centimeter Schmidt telescope. 1 Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationWikipedia: Calar Alto Observatory, lead sectionQuote, Wikipedia: Calar Alto Observatory, lead section
The Calar Alto Observatory (Centro Astronomico Hispano en Andalucia or Spanish Astronomical Centre in Andalusia) is an astronomical observatory located in Almeria province in Spain.
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationWikipedia: Calar Alto Observatory, history sectionQuote, Wikipedia: Calar Alto Observatory, history section
The observatory was proposed in 1970 and officially opened in July 1975 with the commissioning of its 1.23-metre (48 in) telescope.
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationWikipedia: Calar Alto Observatory, science sectionQuote, Wikipedia: Calar Alto Observatory, science section
Calar Alto telescopes are used for a broad range of observations, from objects in the Solar System to cosmology (the Alhambra and CALIFA surveys), including the search for exoplanets (the CARMENES survey).
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationWikipedia: Calar Alto Observatory, telescopes sectionQuote, Wikipedia: Calar Alto Observatory, telescopes section
There are 4 main telescopes on site: a 3.5-meter (138-inch), 2.2 m (87 in), and a 1.23 m (48 in) telescope, and an 80 cm (31 in) Schmidt reflector.
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