An analysis of high-resolution Stokes observations of two light bridges in active region NOAA 8990 is presented. The observations were recorded with the La Palma Stokes Polarimeter attached to the Swedish Vacuum Solar Telescope. The stratification over the solar atmosphere of different physical parameters is retrieved from these data using the

The GTC (Gran Telescopio Canarias) is a 10,4 meter segmented telescope, whose integration is currently being completed at the ORM in La Palma, Spain. The GTC is a partnership between Spain, Mexico and the University of Florida. Main science drivers for the GTC are image quality, operational efficiency and reliability. First light is planned for

New BV RI photometry and optical spectroscopy of the Type IIp supernova 2004dj in NGC 2403, obtained during the first year since discovery, are presented. The progenitor cluster, Sandage 96, is also detected on pre-explosion frames. The light curve indicates that the explosion occurred about 30d before discovery, and the plateau phase lasted about

We explore the dynamics of ionization-bounded planetary nebulae after the termination of the fast stellar wind. When the stellar wind becomes negligible, the hot, shocked bubble depressurizes, and the thermal pressure of the photoionized region, at the inner edge of the swept-up shell, becomes dominant. At this stage the shell tends to fragment