Low mass X-ray binaries consist of two components: a compact object (either a neutron star or a stellar-mass black hole) and a star with a mass similar or lower to that of the Sun. Both objects are close enough for the gravity to strip material from the companion star, which fall onto the compact object forming an accretion disc. Indeed, both objects are so close (typically less than three times the orbit of Mercury) that not even the most powerful telescope can spatially resolve them. Aquila X-1 (Aql X-1) is a canonical X-ray binary harbouring a neutron star. Since its discovery 40 years

Several telescopes at the Teide Observatory (IAC) followed comet Catalina with the aim of characterizing its orbit dynamically. It should be possible to see the central zone of the comet with the naked eye, but to see details you would need binoculars.

The contrats, which last for two years, are young people, less than 30 years old, that will carry out different tasks according their specalized abilities.

CARMENES, an outstanding novel astronomical instrument, which has been designed to look for Earth-like planets, has successfully passed first “on-sky” tests at the telescope. Scientists and engineers of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) have participated in the design and construction of the new “planet hunter”.

PKS 1441+25, half-way between the Big Bang and us, will help to explain the evolution of stars and galaxies for the second half of the lifetime of the Universe.

Every year at about this date the Earth in its orbit round the Sun meets up with a stream of particles from the asteroid 3200 Phaeton, which produces the meteor shower known as the Geminids. This year we had a good opportunity to observe them. The maximum of this shower, which was expected at 18.00 UT yesterday, December 14 th, occurred with the Moon just emerging from new. For that reason the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) wanted to present the spectacle to the general public through its website and the sky-live.tv portal. the meteor shower will be broadcast directly from