The research developed in Tromsø is mainly related with the observational part of the astrophysics. Therefore, besides the Skibotn Telescope, we use frequently other telescopes. We are one of the more active groups in Norway using the NOT (Nordic Optical Telescope), which is the biggest telescope of the Nordic countries and located in La Palma, Canary Island. We introduce here the observatories frequently used by the group.

Image of the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory

We use regulary the Nordic Optical Telescope. This telescope is situated in the Observatorio Roque de Los Muchachos in La Palma, Canary Island. The excellent observational conditions in the place have made this observatory  the most important in Europe. The size of the main mirrow of the telescope is 2.5 meters. This telescope is the core of the research done in our group. Recently, we have implemented in some of the NOT cameras (ALFOSC and HIRAC) the windowing system for fast CCD photometry developed in Tromsø. You can find here more information about the Nordic Optical telescope (NOT) Scientific Association (NOTSA).

Image of the Teide Observatory

Since 1999, we have started to observe very frequently in the telescope IAC80, located at the Teide Observatory. This observatory is situated in another Canary Island, Tenerife, and it is mainly devoted for solar astrophysics. However, in addition, there are two 'night' telescopes (IAC80 with a primary mirror of 80 cm. and CST with a primary mirror of 1.5 m.). We have started to use the IAC80, specially in our programs of observation related with the Whole Earth Telescope (WET) network of observers. In fact, the Tromso-Texas Photometer (TTP), a three channels photometer WET design, property of our group, have been moved to this telescope. The combination IAC80 + TTP is actually one of the more important 'teams' providing data to the WET family. 

Since 1991, we have been actively collaborating with astronomers of the Moletai Observatory in Lithuania. We use the biggest of the telescopes situated in this observatory (1.65 main mirror diameter), which is the biggest place in north Europe. We use it specially to test and develop together new instrumentation. The activity in this observatory becomes quite active in summer time, due to the impossibility to use the Skibotn telescope because of the midnight sun.