Teide Observatory
Teide Observatory (), IAU code 954, is an astronomical observatory on Mount Teide at , located on Tenerife, Spain. It has been operated by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias since its inauguration in 1964. It became one of the first major international observatories, attracting telescopes from different countries around the world because of the good astronomical seeing conditions. Later the emphasis for optical telescopes shifted more towards Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma. Other buildings on the site. The observatory has a visitors' centre and a residencia (hostel) for astronomers. Brian May helped construct a building there  to study interplanetary dust. List of discovered minor planets. The Minor Planet Center credits the discovery of several minor planets directly to the observatory. Discovery of the first brown dwarf star. In 1995, Rafael Rebolo López, María Rosa Zapatero-Osorio and Eduardo L. Martín published their discovery of Teide-1, which they found through optical observations using the 0.8 meter telescope at Teide Observatory. Climate. The position where the observatory is situated has a mediterranean climate (Köppen "Csb"), with average temperature features reminiscent of southern England. This renders in warm summers that averages around with light frosts being possible and sometimes  happening in winter. Extremes are moderated by its marine features, which combined with the altitude keeps temperatures below even during heat waves, and in spite of the altitude the marine features are strong enough to prevent severe frosts. Sunshine levels, as typical of the nearby lowland arid climates, are high throughout the year. Many alpine areas at further distance from the equator are above the tree line at this elevation, but Teide is far above even any subarctic temperatures due to its position on the 28th parallel north. Astroclimate and seeing. The useful observing time is given as 78% and  the median FWHM seeing from DIMM measurements is given as 0.76" and 0.70" at two sites near the Carlos Sánchez Telescope.