European Solar Telescope

European Solar Telescope
Alternative namesEST Edit this at Wikidata
Part ofRoque de los Muchachos Observatory Edit this on Wikidata
Location(s)Garafía, Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Built2023–2028 (2023–2028) Edit this at Wikidata
Telescope styleoptical telescope
solar telescope Edit this on Wikidata
Diameter407 cm (13 ft 4 in) Edit this at Wikidata
Secondary diameter80 cm (2 ft 7 in) Edit this at Wikidata
Angular resolution0.03 arcsecond Edit this on Wikidata
Collecting area13.0 m2 (140 sq ft) Edit this at Wikidata
Mountingaltazimuth mount Edit this on Wikidata
Enclosuredome Edit this on Wikidata
Websitewww.est-east.eu Edit this at Wikidata
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The European Solar Telescope (EST) is a pan-European project to build a next-generation 4-metre class solar telescope, to be located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory[1] in the Canary Islands, Spain. It will use state-of-the-art instruments with high spatial and temporal resolution that can efficiently produce two-dimensional spectral information in order to study the Sun's magnetic coupling between its deep photosphere and upper chromosphere. This will require diagnostics of the thermal, dynamic and magnetic properties of the plasma over many scale heights, by using multiple wavelength imaging, spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry.

The EST design will strongly emphasise the use of a large number of visible and near-infrared instruments simultaneously, thereby improving photon efficiency and diagnostic capabilities relative to other existing or proposed ground-based or space-borne solar telescopes. In May 2011 EST was at the end of its conceptual design study.

The EST is being developed by the European Association for Solar Telescopes (EAST), which was set up to ensure the continuation of solar physics within the European community. Its main goal is to develop, construct and operate the EST.[2] The European Solar Telescope is often regarded as the counterpart of the American Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope which finished construction in November 2021.

  1. ^ "El Telescopio Solar Europeo se instalará en La Palma". Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias • IAC. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  2. ^ The European Solar Telescope