Teruel observatory to install €9.1m space defense telescope

The Centro de Estudios de Física del Cosmos de Aragón (CEFCA) has launched a €9.1 million tender for a new telescope at the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in Teruel, Spain. Known as the T150, the instrument is designed to enhance planetary defense and space surveillance by tracking asteroids and orbital debris.

The T150 will feature a 1.5-meter aperture and an exceptionally wide field of view, allowing it to scan large portions of the sky every few days. Researchers estimate the telescope could detect approximately 7,000 objects annually, including asteroids as small as 18 meters. This capability is intended to provide early warnings for potential space threats and assist in cataloging the growing amount of space junk orbiting Earth.

The project includes the design, supply, and construction of the telescope's housing dome. Following a 30-month execution period, the instrument is expected to become operational in 2029, joining two existing telescopes at the high-altitude site.