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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  • Grantecan in spring
    Photomontage
    Funding for Grantecan's activities in the coming years is consolidated
    The Spanish Government and the Government of the Canary Islands ratify the allocation of 71.1 million euros that will allow the maintenance and development of scientific projects of the highest level until 2030. The GTC is part of the Map of Singular Scientific and Technical Facilities (ICTS) of the Ministry of Science and Innovation and is the largest optical-infrared telescope ever built. On Tuesday, 20 June, the Council of Ministers approved the agreement by which the Ministry of Science and Innovation will allocate 47.8 million euros between 2023 and 2030 to the Gran Telescopio Canarias
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  • Triptófano en IC 348
    Press release
    An amino acid essential for life is found in interstellar space
    The IAC researcher Susana Iglesias-Groth has discovered the existence of tryptophan, an amino acid essential for the formation of proteins and the develoment of living organisms, within a stellar system in the Perseus Cloud. She did this using data from the Spitzer Space Observatory. The results of this finding are published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Tryptophan is one of the 20 amino acids considered essential for the formation of proteins, which are key macromolecules for the development of life on Earth. This amino acid has many spectral features in
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  • IAC Statement: The Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (ORM) announces a temporary cut of the road inside the Observatory
    Due to the execution of renovation works on the underground medium voltage line that run strictly along the existing road inside the Observatory, the section of the LP403 road will be affected from the junction at km 1.4. The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, which depends on the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, informs that, having assessed the evolution of the improvement and renovation works of the underground medium voltage line and digital communications that have been developed in recent weeks, from today a temporary cut will be effective that will affect the general circulation
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  • SALSA Galaxy Mosaic
    Press release
    Astronomers study the magnetic chaos of galaxies in the nearby Universe
    International research, with the participation of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), reveals that perturbations in the magnetic fields of galaxies may be related to star formation. The study has mapped the magnetic fields of about fifteen galaxies in the vicinity of the Milky Way. The data were obtained with the HAWC+ instrument on board SOFIA, an airborne infrared telescope on a Boeing 747 that was operational until September 2022. The results are published in The Astrophysical Journal. For decades, astronomers have studied the forces that govern the interior of galaxies -
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  • Kitt Peak & Mayall Telescope
    Press release
    Nearly Two Million Objects to Study Dark Energy with DESI
    The first batch of data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument is now available for researchers to mine. Taken during the experiment’s “survey validation” phase, the data include distant galaxies and quasars as well as Milky Way stars. The universe is big, and it’s getting bigger. To study dark energy, the mysterious force behind the accelerating expansion of our universe, scientists are using the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) to map more than 40 million galaxies, quasars, and stars. Today, the collaboration, which includes the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)
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  • Poster AEACI 2023
    Press release
    The IX International Summer School for teachers at the IAC will be focused on the study of "Other Worlds"
    The "Astronomy Education Adventure in the Canary Islands 2023" will take place in Tenerife from 17 to 21 July and will mainly focus on research on the Solar System and extrasolar planets, highlighting the work carried out at the IAC and the Observatories of the Canary Islands. The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), together with other scientific and educational institutions, is organising the ninth edition of the "Astronomy Education Adventure in the Canary Islands" (AEACI). Under the title "Other Worlds", the latest discoveries and advances in research on extrasolar planets, the
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