OPTICON Telescope Network

1
OPTICON Telescope Network
Europe has a number of medium sized (2-4metre)
telescopes funded by a variety of national
agencies and consortia. These telescopes and
their operators face similar challenges in the
next few years. The OPTICON telescopes network
provides a forum to share ideas and agree
exchanges of observing time. Widening access to
these telescopes across the entire EU community
is being achieved through a trans-national access
programme. Using existing medium sized facilities
to enhance European research is also one of our
priorities.
As 8 metre telescopes such as the ESO VLT
become the de facto large facilities,
telescopes in the 2-4 metre class have become
'medium sized' by comparison. However these
facilities can still carry out unique and
significant scientific programmes. For example,
projects that require more observing time than is
available on the highly oversubscribed large
telescopes, or that require particular,
specialised instrumentation. They also offer new
opportunities for the development of
astronomers by providing access to scientists
from across the European Community whatever
their nationality.
TRANS-NATIONAL ACCESS EC funds allow astronomers
from user communities across Europe to travel to
more telescopes and use instruments not available
at their national facilities. Qualifying EU
users receive travel grants to visit telescopes
operated by other EU nations and the telescope
operators receive a contribution to their
operational costs. The Telescope network
includes 18 night time and 4 solar telescopes.
For details of access rules visit
www.otri.iac.es/opticon/

• OPTICON TELESCOPE NETWORK OBJECTIVES
• Achieve a lasting integration of EU astronomers.
• Maximise scientific return within the available
  resources.
• Create opportunities for trans-national mobility.
• Remove duplicated facilities to release funding
  for new initiatives.
• Use medium sized telescopes to develop research
  skills.

DIRECTORS FORUM The OPTICON directors forum
brings together the operators of world class
European astronomical infrastructures to discuss
and develop new operational paradigms.
Time-swapping, instrumentation rationalisation,
standardisation of proposal processes and common
software are all discussion topics
RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT The research enhancement
activity will investigate how to use existing
medium-sized facilities to improve the research
experience of younger scientists and provide them
better insight into the observational skills
needed when they use larger telescopes or space
facilities.
2
The OPTICON Telescope Network
Anglo Australian Observatory 3.5m Telescope Telescopio Nazionale Galileo 3.5m Telescope
Anglo Australian Observatory Schmidt Telescope Nordic Optical Telescope 2.5m Telescope
Centro Astronomico Hispano Aleman 3.5m Telescope Aristarchos 2.5m Telescope
Centro Astronomico Hispano Aleman 2.2m Telescope Observatoire de Haute Provence 1.9m Telescope
Canada France Hawaii Telescope 3.6m Telescope Telescope Bernard Lyot 2m Telescope
ESO La Silla 3.6m Telescope Telescopio Carlos Sancez 1.5m Telescope
ESO La Silla 3.5m Telescope THEMIS Solar Telescope
ESO La Silla 2.2m Telescope Swedish Solar Telescope Solar Telescope
Isaac Newton Group 4.2m Telescope Vacuum Tower Telescope Solar Telescope
Isaac Newton Group 2.5m Telescope Liverpool Telescope 2m Telescope
UK Infrared Telescope 3.8m Telescope Dutch Open Telescope Solar Telescope