News

This section includes scientific and technological news from the IAC and its Observatories, as well as press releases on scientific and technological results, astronomical events, educational projects, outreach activities and institutional events.

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  • Participants in the practical training of the EDUCADO project in the control room of the William Herschel Telescope (WHT) at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (La Palma).
    Press release
    Two nights under the stars: EDUCADO Project runs intensive observation school
    The EU-funded EDUCADO project (Exploring the Deep Universe by Computational Analysis of Data from Observations) at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) is organising a two-night astronomical observation school providing hands-on research training for early-stage researchers in astronomy and computer science. The program will convene 15 doctoral candidates from across Europe for an immersive, interdisciplinary learning experience. Attendees will engage in night time astronomical observations utilizing state-of-the-art telescopic instrumentation, guided data analysis workshops, and
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  • Participantes a la la segunda reunión de los grandes observatorios astronómicos de España celebrada en Granada
    Photomontage
    El IAC y el Gran Telescopio Canarias participan en la segunda reunión de los grandes observatorios astronómicos de España
    Del 10 al 13 de junio, las principales instalaciones astronómicas de España se dan cita en Granada para compartir conocimientos, tecnologías y estrategias de colaboración. Bajo el lema “Promoviendo sinergias entre grandes observatorios españoles”, este encuentro reúne a cerca de un centenar de expertos en tecnología, ingeniería y gestión que trabajan en las Infraestructuras Científicas y Técnicas Singulares (ICTS) en astronomía del país. El objetivo de esta segunda edición es consolidar los vínculos creados en la primera reunión, celebrada en La Palma en 2023, y seguir avanzando en
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  • Dr. Holly Gilbert at the inaugural Irene Gonzalez Hernandez Solar Physics Prize Ceremony in Anchorage, Alaska.
    Photomontage
    Holly R. Gilbert awarded the inaugural Irene González Hernández Prize in Solar Physics
    The award, instituted in honour of Canary Island scientist Irene González Hernández, recognises excellence in solar research and scientific leadership. The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) celebrates the awarding of the inaugural Irene González Hernández prize to Dr. Holly R. Gilbert, director of the High Altitude Observatory (HAO) of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) of the US National Science Foundation. The award was presented at the 56th meeting of the Solar Physics Division (SPD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), held jointly with the AAS and the
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  • Staff from the Tenerife II - El Rosario penitentiary centre visit the Teide Observatory
    Press release
    The IAC is taking astronomy to the prisoners in the Tenerife-II prison in El Rosario
    The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) has initiated a project of science outreach in the Tenerife-II prison in El Rosario, with the aim of bringing knowledge about the Universe to the prisoners, as well as to the educational and other working personnel at that centre. This initiative is taken in the framework of the commitment of the IAC to the popularization of science as a tool for inclusión and social transformation. The project is led by the astrophysicist, and IAC researcher David Aguado and is a continuation of a first experiment in 2024 in the Madrid V prison at Soto del Real
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  • Attendees at Our Science Day 2025
    Photomontage
    The IAC celebrates the 16th edition of ‘Our Science Day’, an internal meeting to share scientific and technological advances
    The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) today held the 16th edition of the ‘Our Science Day’, an annual internal event which brought together its research and technical staff at the IACTEC headquarters in La Laguna. This meeting has established itself as a space for sharing the most outstanding advances of the past year in the different areas of work of the centre, promoting collaboration, cohesion and the exchange of ideas between teams. The conference was opened by the director of the IAC, Valentín Martínez Pillet, who presented an analysis of the centre's situation. The director
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    Research news
    Exploring the atmosphere of GJ 1132 b with CRIRES+
    The rocky planet GJ 1132 b, with Earth-like mass and radius, is a prime candidate for atmospheric studies. Previous observations with Hubble and JWST yielded conflicting results about its atmosphere. This study used three transit observations with the CRIRES+ instrument to search for He i, HCN, CH₄, and H₂O in GJ 1132 b's atmosphere. No clear atmospheric signals were detected, but upper limits for CH₄, HCN, and H₂O were established. The results suggest that if GJ 1132 b has an atmosphere, it is not dominated by hydrogen. The work highlights the challenges of detecting high molecular weight
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