RMS station at La Palma
Roque de los Muchachos, the highest peak of the Canarian island La Palma, is perfect location for astronomical observations: high altitude above the sea level, no light pollution, clouds below and crystal clear skies above – therefore, a real paradise for astronomers. All those features make this particular site a Mecca for observational astronomers, so it is not strange that some of the largest worldwide astrophysical collaborations have their observatories on the very top of this stunning volcanic mountain. Among a dozen prominent telescopes, Observatory Roque de los Muchachos (ORM) is home to Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) (a 10.4 m reflecting telescope which is currently the world’s largest single-aperture optical telescope), Swedish 1 m Solar Telescope (SST) (current record holder for the largest refracting telescope in the world), Cherenkov telescopes MAGIC 1 and MAGIC 2, and almost finished largest Cherenkov telescope in the world, mighty 23 m in diameter Large-Sized Telescope (LST) which is a part of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) collaboration. Right at the roof of the MAGIC telescopes’ Counting house from April the 9th one camera of Global Meteor Network had found its new home!
We would like to thank Victor Acciari for his unselfish support and help during mounting of this camera, and also to the MAGIC executive board which provided us the location, electric current and Internet access for appropriate operation of RMS station La Palma. Next step in the development of La Palma station is to find its companion on one of the neighboring Canarian island, in order to successfully perform the triangulation and computation of meteoroid orbits.
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