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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  • 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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  • 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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