{"id":36156,"date":"2025-05-27T11:47:07","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T09:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/?p=36156"},"modified":"2025-05-29T15:02:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T13:02:30","slug":"the-montsec-observatory-expands-its-capabilities-with-the-installation-of-a-new-telescope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/en\/the-montsec-observatory-expands-its-capabilities-with-the-installation-of-a-new-telescope\/","title":{"rendered":"The Montsec Observatory expands its capabilities with the installation of a new telescope"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2022 The Wide Field Fast Telescope (TRAC,<\/i> by its Catalan acronym) <\/em>will be dedicated to astrophysical research and the development of innovative space-related technologies, complementing the Joan Or\u00f3 Telescope and the Fabra-ROA Montsec Telescope<\/i>
\u2022 The project is coordinated by the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia and involves the participation of the Institute for High Energy Physics (IFAE) and the i2CAT research centre<\/i>
\u2022 The funding has been provided within the framework of the CERCAGINYS III call by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Department of Research and Universities of the Government of Catalonia, and the CERCA Institution<\/i><\/p>\n

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The dome of the Wide Field Fast Telescope (right) with the Joan Or\u00f3 Telescope in the background, at the Montsec Observatory. IEEC<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Since this May, the <\/span>Montsec Observatory<\/span><\/a> (OdM) has been equipped with a new instrument: the<\/span> Wide Field Fast Telescope <\/b>(TRAC). This new telescope, funded under the <\/span>CERCAGINYS III<\/span><\/a> call for the development of scientific infrastructures, will bring new capabilities such as<\/span> the observation of potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids and the tracking of satellites and space debris.<\/b><\/p>\n

The OdM, managed by the <\/span>Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia<\/span><\/a> (IEEC), is a cutting-edge scientific and technological facility for astronomical research, satellite communications, and atmospheric measurements, located in Sant Esteve de la Sarga (Pallars Juss\u00e0, Lleida). The new TRAC telescope, <\/span>with a 40 cm diameter and a wide field of view<\/b>, will complement its current telescope array, which until now has consisted of the Joan Or\u00f3 Telescope \u2014the largest in Catalonia, operated by the IEEC\u2014 and the Fabra-ROA Montsec Telescope \u2014which belongs to the <\/span>Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona<\/span><\/a> (RACAB) and the <\/span>Spanish Navy Observatory<\/span><\/a> (ROA).<\/span><\/p>\n

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A Facility for Cooperative Use<\/h2>\n

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As part of the CERCAGINYS III call awarded in 2024, the IEEC secured funding from the <\/span>Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>Department of Research and Universities<\/span><\/a> of the Government of Catalonia, and the <\/span>CERCA Institution<\/span><\/a> to undertake the construction of the new wide-field telescope, TRAC, at the Montsec Observatory (OdM). The project is coordinated by the IEEC itself and involves the participation of the <\/span>Institute for High Energy Physics<\/span><\/a> (IFAE) and the <\/span>i2CAT<\/span><\/a> research centre.<\/span><\/p>\n

The TRAC will be a scientific facility developed and <\/span>used cooperatively, and it will begin to be offered to the scientific community starting in 2026<\/b>, once the testing phase and the development of the control system and auxiliary equipment are completed. <\/span><\/p>\n

The IEEC owns the telescope and will coordinate its management and operation, with participation from IFAE and i2CAT through collaboration agreements.<\/span><\/p>\n

IFAE\u2019s participation will be carried out through the <\/span>Scientific Computing Port<\/span><\/a> (PIC), a scientific and technological centre operated in collaboration with the <\/span>Centro de Investigaciones Energ\u00e9ticas, Medioambientales y Tecnol\u00f3gicas<\/span><\/a> (CIEMAT, and will focus on providing the necessary data storage and accessibility services with sufficient capacity to handle the large volume of data expected to be produced by TRAC.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, i2CAT will focus on researching and developing an appropriate optical communications system that can be added to the telescope in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Wide Field Fast Telescope (TRAC), with a 40 cm diameter, with its dome open, recently installed at the Montsec Observatory. <\/span><\/strong>IEEC<\/strong><\/p>\n

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What will be the functions of the TRAC telescope?<\/h2>\n

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The TRAC will have the capability to carry out:<\/span><\/p>\n