Biggest solar telescope in Europe to put Spain at the cutting edge of 'sun studies'

EUROPE'S largest telescope will go up on the Canarian island of La Palma and put Spain at the sharp end of global investigation into the sun.

Unveiled recently at the National Research Council (CSIC) by the Canarian Astrophysics Institute (IAC) and its counterpart in the southern mainland region of Andalucía (IAA), the European Solar Telescope (EST) has a 4.2-metre lens and will enable space scientists to monitor the physical processes that take place in the atmosphere surrounding our closest star.

If everything goes according to plan, work will start on building the EST in the year 2024 at the existing observatory in Roque de los Muchachos, and it should be fully operational and in use by 2029.

Project leader and researcher at the IAA, Dr Luis Bellot, says studying the sun is an opportunity for studying the stars in general, since 'it is the only one we have close enough to us to observe in detail'.

“It's also the physics laboratory we'll never be able to have here on earth,” Dr Bellot explains.

As well as being essential for life on earth and providing the energy the planet needs for its survival, the sun also undergoes explosive phenomena which eject 'huge amounts of energy' that can 'reach the earth's atmosphere' and 'affect our way of life', the investigator continues.

“All these features make it obligatory for us to try to understand better what happens on and around our star and how these happenings impact us on earth,” he says.

The EST will suppose a 'quantum leap' in 'sun studies', Dr Bellot reveals, given the scale of footage and detail captured.

Until now – and until the year 2029 – solar observation has been carried out via telescopes such as the GREGOR in Tenerife's Teide National Park, and which is currently the largest in operation in Europe.

And although the image quality from the Teide Observatory is 'very good' and allows researchers to 'monitor physical processes on the sun's surface', the EST's huge primary lens will take this to a whole new level.

It will allow astronomers to view structures to a scale of 20 kilometres (12.5 miles), including magnetic fields which constantly evolve and change pattern very quickly.

Once in use, the EST will allow Europe to carry on being a world leader in solar physics research, and with Spain right at the forefront.

Headed up by the IAC and IAA and with the support of the regional governments of Andalucía and the Canary Islands, as well as Spain's ministry for science and innovation, the telescope project involves 16 different European countries.

The ministry's Secretary of State for innovation, Raquel Yotti, explained how the teamwork involves three elements – scientific cooperation between national and Europe-wide institutions including governments and research centres is one of these.

Within it, seeking backing from Spanish companies was necessary, since creating the technology and building the parts needed is a highly-niche business area.

Secondly, a long-term commitment was essential, on the part of all countries and organisms, as investment and resources will be needed for several years – not only for creating and setting up the EST, but for its future maintenance, running costs and general upkeep.

In fact, just the preparatory phase of designing the telescope, which began in April 2017, was able to go ahead thanks to a €4 million European Union grant to cover its full cost.

The third and final element involved is leadership, says Sra Yotti – and this comes exclusively from Spain.