We present a uniform and high quality set of infrared photometric (JHK) observations of the 6 peculiar carbon giant stars V Ari, UV Cam, BD+34 911, TU Gem, BD+57 2161 and BD+34 4134. All of these belong to the small group of known cool CH giants populating the Galactic halo. Comparison of the J-H and H-K colours to "normal" C stars show our stars

We present the first light curves in the infrared J, H, and K bands of UX Her and analyze them together with published light curves in B and V in order to determine the physical parameters of the system. Based on the spectra of UX Her and standard stars in the region 8440-8870 Å, we classify the primary component of the binary as a type A2-3 V star

The Instituto de Astrofisica is finalizing the design for a 10 m class optical/infrared telescope at the Observatory Roques de los Muchachos, La Palma. It is widely recognized that the traditional observing modes are inefficient so it is intended to explore other alternatives to maximize the scientific return from the telescope and to provide the

A project to build a large telescope at the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (ORM), in the island of La Palma, has been underway for several years. Spanish astronomy has progressed steadily to the point where gaining access to large telescope time is key to its continued and future growth. Also the technological situation within

A project to build a large telescope at the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (ORM), in the island of La Palma, has been underway for several years. The Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) project has thus been granted approval in February this year, with an allocation of 51% of the budget. Current activities of the telescope project are

First results of the inversion of Stokes I and V profiles from plage regions near disk center are presented. Both low and high spatial resolution spectra of Fe I 6301.5 and Fe I 6302.5 A obtained with the Advanced Stokes Polarimeter (ASP) have been considered for analysis. The thin flux-tube approximation, implemented in an LTE inversion code based