Test Bed Telescopes (TBT)

ESA's Test Bed Telescopes (TBT) are two twin telescopes built by ESA to test different observational activities in the optical detection of NEO’s and satellites or space debris. The two telescopes are located in Spain (Z58 - ESA TBT Cebreros Observatory)  and Chile (W57 - ESA TBT La Silla Observatory).

 

ESA TBT Cebreros Specs

MPC Code Z58
Latitude +40.454075°
Longitude -4.369319°
Altitude 719 m
Aperture 0.56 m
Focal ratio f/2.52
Default passband UV-cut glass
Altitude limit ~10°
Typical PSF FWHM ~4”
FoV 150’×150’
Sensor 4k×4k e2v CCD
Pixel scale (unbinned) 2.19”
Download time ~12 s

 

ESA TBT La Silla Specs

MPC Code W57
Latitude -29.255222°
Longitude -70.739056°
Altitude 2377 m
Aperture 0.56 m
Focal ratio f/2.52
Default passband UV-cut glass
Altitude limit ~5°
Typical PSF FWHM ~4”
FoV 150’×150’
Sensor 4k×4k e2v CCD
Pixel scale (unbinned) 2.19”
Download time ~12 s