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 group of presidents of the TSJs visit the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
    The presidents of the High Courts of Justice (TSJ) of Spain have met in La Palma for their 18th annual meeting. On 27 June 2023, the presiding judges of the Spanish High Courts of Justice (TSJ) visited the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory to see its facilities and telescopes. The Director of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Rafael Rebolo, received the group of judges accompanied by the Observatory administrator, Juan Carlos Pérez Arencibia, and the Mayor of Garafía, José Angel Sánchez, who was also joined by three councillors from his Corporation. The tour began at the Roque de
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  • Image of the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888), a ring nebula associated with a galactic Wolf-Rayet star, in which significant temperature variations have been observed in the gas it contains. Credit: Daniel López / IAC
    Research news
    Temperature inhomogeneities cause the abundance discrepancy in H II regions
    H II regions are ionized nebulae associated with the formation of massive stars. They exhibit a wealth of emission lines in their spectra that form the basis for estimation of chemical composition. The amount of heavy chemical elements is essential to the understanding of important phenomena such as nucleosynthesis, star formation and chemical evolution of galaxies. For over 80 years, however, a discrepancy exists of a factor of around two between heavy-element abundances (the so-called metallicity) derived from the two main kinds of emission lines that can be measured in nebular spectra
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  • Estrellas supergigantes azules en h y X Persei
    Press release
    Blue Supergiants observed in detail
    Researchers at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and the University of La Laguna (ULL), publish today in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics the first results of a detailed study of nearly a thousand blue supergiants in the Milky Way. This is the biggest sample of stars of this type which has been studied until now. The study has used over 15 years of high quality observations taken mainly with the NOT and Mercator telescopes at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma. The analysis of these data will allow researchers to improve their knowledge of the evolution of
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  • Lunation on the Temple of Khnum
    Press release
    The definitive book about the cultural role of astronomy in ancient Egypt
    The editorial Springer is publishing the book “Astronomy of Ancient Egypt: A Cultural Perspective” by the researcher at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) Juan Antonio Belmonte, and the egyptologist from the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB) Josep Lull. The book analyzes and synthesizes the collected research during the last two hundred years about the cosmogony and the cosmovision of ancient Egypt, together with up to date research. The book will be presented in a panel discussion on Friday June 30th at 18:00 h in the Museum of Science and the Cosmos (MCC) of Tenerife, in
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  • HD 192575
    Press release
    Massive pulsating star provides clues to calibrate stellar evolution models
    An international collaboration, with the participation of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), determines with an unprecedented level of precision the mass, age and rotation profile of the core of a massive pulsating star. Known as HD 192575, it has been observed by the NASA space telescope TESS continuously for more than a year. The results shed new light on how such stars are internally structured and how they evolve until their death, when they explode as supernovae and form neutron stars and black holes. The scientific team has also used observations made with the Mercator
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  • Sálvora Island
    Press release
    The effects of light pollution on astronomy are increasing
    The Director of the Starlight Foundation, and researcher at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias Antonia M. Varela Pérez has contributed to a monographic edition of the prestigious journal Science dedicated to light pollution and its consequences. The starry sky has been a source of inspiration throughout human history. Astronomy has been a common element in all cultures and civilizations, and has been used to establish calendars, to navigate and discover new lands, and to drive many scientific and technical advances. The article “The increasing effects of light pollution on professional
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