The Galileo Telescope Drive System

The Galileo National Telescope (TNG) is an Italian 3.5m telescope to be located on La Palma (Spain). Construction of TNG is well in progress, and the first light should be obtained in the second half of 1995. The TNG main elements have been derived from those of the ESO NTT, although some alternative solutions regarding the components and the management, have been taken into consideration in order to make the system more reliable. Interesting solutions regarding motors, bearings, encoders and the control system adopted to drive the TNG ensure a high performances degree in pointing and tracking and a very low manteinance level.