The GTC project: from commissioning to regular science operation. Current performance and first science results

P. Álvarez; J. Castro; R. Rutten; M. van der Hoeven; C. Álvarez; A. M. Perez-García

doi:10.1117/12.857372

28 July 2010 The GTC project: from commissioning to regular science operation. Current performance and first science results

P. Álvarez, J. Castro, R. Rutten, M. van der Hoeven, C. Álvarez, A. M. Perez-García

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7733, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes III; 773305 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857372
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The GTC (Gran Telescopio Canarias) is an optical and IR telescope, with a 10,4 meter segmented primary, installed at the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos (ORM) on the island of La Palma. GTC commissioning started in July 2007 when First Light was achieved. GTC regular scientific operations started at the beginning of 2009 with its first science instrument: OSIRIS, a visible camera with tunable filter and low-resolution multi-object spectroscopic capability. Since that time science operation and telescope and instrument development activities alternate in using the available telescope time. Later in 2010 the second science instrument will be commissioned: CanariCam, a thermal-IR camera and low-resolution spectrograph with polarimetric and coronagraphic capabilities. This paper presents the telescope commissioning process, the problems encountered and shows some of the performance aspects. First science results will also be presented to demonstrate the current capabilities of the GTC facility.

Citation Download Citation

P. Álvarez, J. Castro, R. Rutten, M. van der Hoeven, C. Álvarez, and A. M. Perez-García "The GTC project: from commissioning to regular science operation. Current performance and first science results", Proc. SPIE 7733, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes III, 773305 (28 July 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857372

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available