A new generation of optical intensity interferometers are emerging in recent years taking advantage of the existing infrastructure of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs). The MAGIC SII (Stellar Intensity Interferometer) in La Palma, Spain, has been operating since its first successful measurements in 2019 and its current design allows

This contribution highlights the successes of the Liverpool Telescope (LT) outreach programs and present the future of our engagement plans with the LT's partner, the New Robotic Telescope (NRT). Since 2004, the LT has dedicated a considerable amount of observing time to educational and astronomy outreach programs aimed at students, teachers and

The Instrumentation Division of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) is involved since several years in upgrading its capacities to design and manufacture optical components. To this end, we have created a new laboratory (Centre for Advanced Optical Systems, CSOA) which will be capable to design, fabricate and qualify large optical

In recent years, the topic of existence and exploration of exocomets has been gaining increasing attention. The asymmetrical decrease in the star's brightness due to the passage of a comet-like object in front of the star was successfully predicted. It was subsequently confirmed on the basis of the light curves of stars observed by Kepler and TESS

The New Robotic Telescope (NRT) is an international initiative to build a 4-metre robotic telescope. With a primary mirror consisting of 18 segmented hexagonal mirrors and a control system that will allow fully autonomous operation, NRT will be the world's largest robotic telescope. This, together with a response time of less than 30 seconds, a

The 4m class New Robotic Telescope (NRT) is an optical facility designed to revolutionize the rapid follow-up and classification of variable and transient objects. The project is at the stage where key systems are progressing through their detailed design phases, which presents a major engineering challenge for all project partners to manage design