Two-meter Twin Telescope
TTT
Location
Band
Diameter
Ø 200.00 cm
Purpose
Characteristics
Responsible scientist
Miquel
Serra Ricart
User institution
State
Operation year
2022
MPC
Y68
Related grants:
Description
The Two-meter Twin Telescope (TTT) is a robotic facility located at the Teide Observatory in Tenerife, Canary Islands. It consists of four telescopes in total: two large 2.0-meter instruments and two complementary 0.8-meter instruments, all designed to operate in a coordinated and fully robotic mode. This architecture makes the TTT one of the most versatile and powerful mid-sized observatory systems in Europe.
The two 2.0-meter telescopes provide high-resolution, large-aperture capabilities for demanding science cases such as solar system, exoplanet characterization, active galactic nuclei monitoring, and gravitational lensing studies. Their twin configuration allows simultaneous use of different instruments, parallel observation modes, or redundant operation for critical programs where continuous monitoring is essential.
The two 0.8-meter telescopes extend the system’s capacity to wide-field surveys, photometric follow-up, and rapid response to transient events. Optimized for flexibility and high cadence observations, they are particularly valuable for time-domain astronomy, near-Earth object tracking, and other research and higher education purposes. Together with the 2.0-meter pair, they form a unique multi-scale infrastructure capable of covering a broad spectrum of scientific targets. The TTT is always open to daring ideas and breakthrough instruments.
Integrated with the ASTRO POC edge computing and data platform (ASTRO CAN1), the TTT telescopes are directly connected to high-performance computing resources that enable real-time data processing, optical communications experiments, and advanced applications at the interface between astronomy and technology. Operated by Light Bridges with national and international partners, the TTT is a flagship project that strengthens the Canary Islands’ role as a world-leading site for astrophysics and space innovation.
Technical Data
Optical info TTT-2m
M1 diameter 2000 mm
Shape c= -1.12
Radius of curvature 8000 (+6, -6) mm
M2 diameter: 736 mm
Shape c= -5.166179
Radius of curvature 4177.5 mm
Total focal length 12000 mm
Distance M1-M2 2607.50 mm
Nasmyth back focus 1570 mm
Optical design: Ritchey-Chrétien RC
Linear central obstruction: 41%
Focus: 2 Nasmyth, 3 complementary
Focal ratio system: f6
Clear Aperture / Focal Ratio Primary Mirror: 2000mm (78,7 inch) / f2
Mirror material: Zerodur
Surface quality: >94 strehl
Microroughness. 1nm RMS / <0.7nm Ra
Coating. Al+SiO2 >91 %
Optical info TTT-80cm
M1 diameter 800 mm
Shape c= -1.1382
Radius of curvature 4000 mm
M2 diameter: 280 mm
Shape c= -6.2
Radius of curvature 2142.2 mm
Total focal length 5486 mm
Distance M1-M2 1319.50 mm
Nasmyth back focus 547 mm
Optical design: Ritchey-Chrétien RC
Linear central obstruction: 41%
Focus: 2 Nasmyth
Focal ratio system: f6.85
Clear Aperture / Focal Ratio Primary Mirror: 800mm (31.5 inch) / f2.5
Image field: 120mm (1.25 degrees)
Mirror material: Fused silica
Surface quality: >94 strehl
Microroughness. 1nm RMS / <0.7nm Ra
Coating. Al+SiO2 >96 %
Telescope information
Name | 80 CM | 2 METERS |
MPC code | ||
Design | Ritchey-Chrétien | Ritchey-Chrétien |
Mount | ALT/AZ | ALT/AZ |
Main diameter | 800 mm | 2000 mm |
Ports | 2 Nasmyth ports f/6.85 with de-rotator | 5 Ports f/6:
|
Observation constraints | Min. observable elevation 25º Max. observable elevation (de-rotator) 85º Azimuth / altitude range of motion 680 degree / 5-90 degree Max Speed >10 deg/s Pointing Accuracy (20° to 85°) <8” RMS with pointing model Tracking Accuracy (20° to 85° – unguided, with current pointing file) <0.25” RMS within 5 minutes | Min. observable elevation 20º Max. observable elevation (de-rotator) 85º Azimuth / altitude range of motion 680 degree / 5-90 degree Max Speed >10 deg/s Pointing Accuracy (20° to 85°) <8” RMS with pointing model Tracking Accuracy (20° to 85° – unguided, with current pointing file) <0.25” RMS within 5 minutes |
Instrumentation
- FERVOR-L. Fast Embedded-sCMOS Robotic Visible Observatory for Riveting transients – Large format. FERVOR-L is a robotic visible-light acquisition system developed by Light Bridges, based on the Sony IMX411 large-format sCMOS sensor. Optimized for transient science and wide field imaging, FERVOR-L delivers ultra-fast readout, low noise, and high dynamic range, providing high-precision photometry and astrometry at short cadences.
- FERVOR-M. Fast Embedded-sCMOS Robotic Visible Observatory for Riveting transients – Medium format. FERVOR-M is the medium-format counterpart of the FERVOR family, built on the Sony IMX455 sCMOS sensor. FERVOR-M provides high-speed imaging with excellent sensitivity and low-noise performance, supporting autonomous photometric and astrometric campaigns with short cadence in the visible domain.
COLORS. CCD Observatory for Light with Optical Robotic Six-band Photometry. COLORS is a robotic visible-light acquisition system developed by Light Bridges, centered on a CCD with the back-illuminated e2v CCD42-40 deep-depleted sensor. It offers very high efficiency between 375 and 950 nm, with low noise and excellent stability for long-exposure imaging. With six broad-band photometric bands, u’g’r’i’z_s’ and y', COLORS is optimized for deep-field imaging and high-precision multi-band photometry.
History
The Two-meter Twin Telescope (TTT) project was born as a public–private collaboration between the Canarian start-up, Light Bridges, and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC). It was conceived and developed by Dr. Antonio Maudes and Dr. Miquel Serra, researchers of the IAC, now on temporary leave to develop the project, together with the engineer and entrepreneur Gerardo Morales. The goal was to build in record time an astronomical facility long demanded by the IAC astronomers and the international community: a 2 meter telescope at the Teide Observatory.
The project was framed within the Canary Islands’ special fiscal regime (REF) and the International Treaty of 1979, demonstrating how fiscal instruments and science diplomacy can be transformed into world-class research infrastructures.
Beyond its scientific and technological dimension, the TTT was designed as a project to create economic and social value for the Canary Islands, combining advanced research with innovation, training, and outreach. It stands as a pioneering example of how astronomy, curbing bureaucracy, can catalyze together the highest adventure of new knowledge and regional development.
The TTT project was launched in August 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic, and advanced rapidly despite the challenges of that period. Construction began on 17 February 2022, and the installation achieved First Light on 7 December 2022, marking a milestone in the development of mid-sized robotic observatories.
Since then, the TTT has established itself as a reference facility for time-domain astronomy and related fields. By mid-2025, the system had already contributed to more than 25 scientific publications, consolidating its role as a bridge between science, technology and society in the Canary Islands and beyond.
Future
The coming years will see the Two-meter Twin Telescope (TTT) equipped with a new generation of instruments that will expand its scientific and technological reach. Planned upgrades include advanced spectrographs, high-resolution imaging systems, fast-cadence cameras, and the Tannhauser optical communications terminal, opening the door to cutting-edge experiments in data transfer between space and ground.
The facility is also being prepared for interferometric applications and the integration of new sensor technologies, which will allow unprecedented levels of precision in astrometry, photometry, and real-time monitoring of transient phenomena. These upgrades will reinforce the TTT as one of the most versatile robotic observatory systems worldwide.
Looking ahead, the vision for the TTT extends beyond instrumentation. The project foresees the long-term acquisition of the facility by a science or technological entity, ensuring its continuity as a shared resource and strengthening its role in global collaborations with the IAC. This would provide a sustainable framework for governance, funding, and scientific leadership.
Finally, the TTT is positioned to play a part in expanding the scope of international scientific agreements, including potential extensions to the 1979 Canary Islands Observatories Treaty, which governs access to these unique sites. By combining technical innovation with institutional, economic and legal design, the TTT aims to remain a cornerstone of both astrophysics and space technology for decades to come.
Results
The Two-meter Twin Telescope (TTT) is consolidating its role as a key facility for Solar System science, with a strong focus on near-Earth objects (NEOs), mini-moons, and interstellar visitors. Observations of 2024 PT5, a temporarily captured mini-moon, show basaltic composition and allow refinement of its orbital dynamics. The TTT also monitors (319) Leona, Mars Trojans, and other small bodies, providing shape and spin-state models while preparing for stellar occultations, including high-profile events such as the Betelgeuse occultation.
The telescope is at the forefront of international efforts to study the third interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1). With deep imaging and spectroscopic follow-up, the TTT contributes to the detection of faint structures in its coma and the identification of water ice, complementing data from large facilities like GTC and Rubin Observatory. These results highlight the TTT’s capacity to react quickly to rare events and to strengthen global strategies for planetary defense and interstellar science.
In parallel, the TTT is driving progress in time-domain astrophysics. It records early light curves of supernovae, follows up cataclysmic variables and dwarf novae, and refines the characterization of exoplanets such as TOI-1135 b. Its robotic design enables continuous monitoring campaigns and rapid reaction to alerts, ensuring its role as a flexible partner to wide-field survey telescopes. Looking forward, these capabilities will expand as new fast-cadence and spectroscopic instruments come online.
The TTT will also strengthen the scientific ecosystem through data infrastructures and technology development. With AsteroiDB, it will anchor a long-term archive of asteroid observations from Canary Islands observatories, and pioneer the use of next-generation sCMOS sensors in astronomy. With more than 25 publications by mid-2025 and many more in progress, the TTT demonstrates how a public–private observatory can combine science, technology, and innovation. Its trajectory points toward an even greater impact, positioning it as a long-term platform for discoveries at the frontier of astronomy and space exploration.
News
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3I/ATLAS: The IAC is monitoring closely the third interstellar object detected in the Solar SystemAdvertised on -
The TTT3 telescope at the Teide Observatory sees its first lightAdvertised on -
The IAC continues to track asteroid 2024 YR4 to refine the probability of impact in 2032Advertised on
