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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  • The galaxy we see in the centre is NGC 7674, also known as Markarian 533. This image, from the Hubble Space Telescope, was taken in 2002. The supernova explosion /SN 2011ee/ had not then taken place, so we are unable to identify the progenitor star. The g
    Press release
    Supernovae that play hide-and-seekScience with the GTC
    By Natalia Ruiz Zelmanovitch There are many kinds of stars in the Universe that are generally classified according to their brightness and colour. The brighter a star is, the bigger it is, and this property is directly related to the mass and age of the star. The most massive stars rapidly consume all the fuel in their interior, and this means not only that their lives are shorter than those of less massive stars but also that their deaths are spectacular. When they reach their end, they explode as supernovae, providing us, in most cases, with an impressive display in the form of magnificent
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  • Simulation of asteroid 2012 DA14 according to the dimensions determined in the study during its approximation to the Earth on 15 February 2013. Credits: Multimedia Service (IAC)
    Press release
    Determining the nature of the closest ever Near Earth Object
    On 15 February the asteroid 2012 DA14 came within 27,700 kilometres of the Earth, making it our closest ever encounter of a Near Earth Object (NEO). The study, carried out by planetary scientists, has determined the shape, size and primordial chemical composition of the asteroid. These results will help develop strategies against potentially dangerous asteroids in terms of diverting or destroying them, or mitigating the effects of their impact. Asteroide 2012 DA14 simulation: Preview and spanish description DOWNLOAD VIDEO: mov, 1920x1080p, h264, 403 MB, 36 seconds. This animtion shows
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  • Protostar IRAS 20324+4057. The matter ejected from the protostellar envelope is revealed in the image in the shape of a blue comet or caterpillar. The protostar itself and the dense envelope of dust and gas that surrounds it - the so-called cocoon - are e
    Press release
    A nascent star illuminated by its "neighbours"PHOTONEWS
    The above image has been chosen as 'image of the month' by the Hubble Heritage Project and 'image of the week' by the European Space Agency (ESA). It shows the protostar IRAS20324+4057, a very young star 4500 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus (The Swan). IRAS 20324+4057 Video High Resolution Image Scientific research Other links of interest: Isaac Newton Telescope IPHAS Public Survey The Hubble Heritage Project Website For further information: Spanish press release
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  • Press release
    Real-time transmission of aurorae borealis from GreenlandRELEASE
    From 24 to 29 August the European project GLORIA (GLOal Robotic telescopes Intelligent Array), in collaboration with the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias will provide direct aurora borealis transmissions. D aily connections from 24 to 29 August from UT 00:30 to 01:30 (1:30-2:30 local Canarian time. Further information: Auroras boreales en directo desde Groenlandia, con GLORIA
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