Teide Observatory (Spanish: Observatorio del Teide), IAU code 954, is an astronomical observatory on Mount Teide at 2,390 metres (7,840 ft), 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.

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Teide Observatory

Alternative names	954 TEN
Organization	Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
Observatory code	954
Location	Tenerife, Atlantic Ocean, international waters
Coordinates	28°18′00″N 16°30′35″W
Altitude	2,390 m (7,840 ft)
Established	1964
Website	www.iac.es/en,%20https://www.iac.es/es
Telescopes	ESA IZN-1 IAC80 Laboratorio Solar MASTER telescope STELLA Telescopes THEMIS solar telescope Vacuum Newton Telescope COSMOSOMAS ESA Optical Ground Station GroundBIRD QUIJOTE Experiment Telescopio Carlos Sánchez Tenerife Experiment Vacuum Tower Telescope Very Small Array
Location of Teide Observatory
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The observatory has a visitors' centre and a residencia (hostel) for astronomers. Brian May helped construct a building there to study interplanetary dust.

The Minor Planet Center credits the discovery of several minor planets directly to the observatory.^[6]

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.^[7]

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 23 °C (73 °F) 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 30 °C (86 °F) 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.

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.^[11]