The instrumentation and observational programs of the Solar Physics Department of the Main Astronomical Observatory are described. The observatory has two solar horizontal telescopes. The first one is the 44 cm telescope located near Kyiv. This telescope has a spectrograph with a double pass system. It was designed for low scattered light and high

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Here we report the main characteristics of the recently acquired near infrared camera. It is based on a 256x256 HgCdTe Nicmos-3 array, sensitive from 1 mu m to 2.5mu m. The pixel size is 40mu mx40mu m, adequate for the spatial and spectral scales at the different telescopes operating at the observatories of La Palma and Tenerife. The cooling system

The IAC is currently developing two similar polarimeters, one for optical wavelengths and one for near infra-red wavelengths (1.5 mu m). Both instruments will provide spectra of the four Stokes parameters over 2D solar regions. The visible spectro-polarimeter will be operated at the Swedish Tower (La Palma), and it is being developed in

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Decisive evidence is presented against the validity of the conventional linear decay law for sunspots. Preliminary results from a statistical analysis of Debrecen Photoheliographic Results data show that the decay rate of sunspots is significantly slower in late phases of the decay than in earlier phases. Our findings are compatible with the