RULES FOR IAC EMPLOYEE VISITS TO THE TEIDE OBSERVATORY
The Teide Observatory is an international research center, where both night and day sky observations are conducted. Therefore, you must understand that there are always people working at the facilities.
The Teide Observatory is located in a pre-national park area, far from residential centers or emergency or rescue services. Therefore, extra safety precautions must be taken: do not light fires, do not discard cigarette butts, avoid any risks, etc.
The Teide Observatory is the only one that allows visitors and amateur observers to access its facilities, which makes these activities delicate and must be coordinated with the observational work being done. Therefore, it is necessary for you to read and understand these rules:
PARTICULAR VISITS
A visit will never be accepted without a corresponding reservation and subsequent approval by the OT administration.
Your visit may be cancelled at any time for safety, weather conditions, or any issue that the OT administration or the IAC management deems necessary.
The authorized visiting hours for you, as an IAC employee, to schedule a visit are throughout the year from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Access is only allowed to IAC telescopes: IAC-80, TCS, and PIRAMIDE.
Access to telescopes such as OGS, QUIJOTE, and solar telescopes requires special permissions, which must be granted by their representatives, and it will only be for special occasions.
Access to the Control Rooms of these telescopes is not permitted.
Visitor groups must not exceed 12 people due to space and security limitations for the equipment.
Upon arrival at the reception, you will receive the keys to open the domes, and you are responsible for returning them.
You are responsible for any possible damage to anything at the facility.
The speed limit inside the Observatory is limited to 20 km/h.
Failure to comply with any of these rules will result in your immediate removal from the Teide Observatory, and the IAC management will be notified.
MONS PLATFORM
Access to the PLATFORM will never be accepted without a corresponding reservation and subsequent approval by the OT administration.
The platform usage hours are from 6:00 PM until sunrise the next day.
Your visit may be cancelled at any time for safety, weather conditions, or any issue that the OT administration or the IAC management deems necessary.
Approved access to use the PLATFORM does not grant authorization to visit the Observatory or any other facilities. For that, you must submit a visit request and get approval.
The Teide Observatory is located at an altitude of 2,400 meters, so it will always be cold when exposed to the open air. Therefore, you must be prepared and access the platform wearing warm clothing. IAC will not provide access to any other facility for shelter.
The only area dedicated to amateur observations is the MONS PLATFORM. The IAC will not provide any other location for these observations. Therefore, if the PLATFORM is occupied, no further reservations will be accepted for other users.
For these types of observations, it is essential to understand that NO lights can be used as professional telescopes are in operation. Use red light and only when necessary.
The IAC does not have telescopes available for use on the PLATFORM, so you must bring your own observation equipment.
The group of people forming the observation group must not exceed 12 members due to space and safety limitations.
The speed limit within the Observatory is 20 km/h during the night. You must comply with this speed and drive on the internal road with parking lights, never with high beams.
Failure to comply with any of these rules will result in your immediate removal from the Teide Observatory and will be reported to the IAC management.