Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
An astronomical centre of excellence in the Northern Hemisphere

The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), recognized by the Spanish government as a "Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence", is a nationally funded research centre that runs two of the best international observatories in the world. In administrative terms, it is a Public Consortium constituted by the General Administration of the Spanish State, the Public Administration of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, the University of La Laguna (ULL), and Spain's Science Research Council (CSIC, after its Spanish initials).

Our headquarters

  • Headquarters
    Headquarters
    Serves as a centre for astrophysical research, technological development, and postgraduate training, as well as being the administrative hub for the Observatorios de Canarias, a meeting point for the international astronomical community, and a coordinator of science outreach. It has a specialized library, a computer centre, workshops, laboratories, meeting rooms, and conference halls.
    Address

    Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias  
    C/ Vía Láctea, s/n E-38205 La Laguna - Tenerife
    España

    Contact

    Phone number
    (34) 922 605 200
    Fax
    (34) 922 605 210
    Email
    secadm [at] iac.es
    Location
    @28.4746279,-16.3102816
  • roque-de-los-muchachos-observatory
    Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
    The quality of the sky above La Palma is a magnet for the giant telescopes of the future. The Observatory currently houses the largest optic-infrared telescope in the world, along with twenty other telescopes and astronomical instruments. These have been responsible for great advances in the study of the Universe. The Observatory Residence provides accommodation for scientific and technical staff.
    Address

    Apartado de Correos 50

    C/ Cuesta de San José, s/n

    San Antonio

    38712 - Breña Baja (La Palma). España

    Contact

    Phone number
    (34) 922 405 500
    Fax
    (34) 922 405 501
    Email
    orm [at] iac.es
    Location
    @28.7561111,-17.891666666667
  • Observatorio del Teide
    Teide Observatory
    The quality and prestige of this observatory, witness to major discoveries, make it viable candidate for future telescopes. It hosts the most comprehensive suite of instrumentation for solar studies, together with nocturnal telescopes (both infrared and visible), robotic telescopes, and microwave experiments. The Observatory Residence provides accommodation for scientific and technical staff.
    Address

    Izaña - Tenerife
    España

    Contact

    Phone number
    (34) 922 329 110
    Fax
    (34) 922 329 117
    Email
    teide [at] iac.es
    Location
    @28.3022984,-16.5122209
  • la-palma-astrophysics-centre-image
    Center for Astrophysics in La Palma
    The Centre has offices for research staff and for the management of telescopes, meeting rooms, a library, computer and telecommunications facilities, workshops, laboratories, and storage rooms for maintenance and instrumentation development. It also houses the LaPalma supercomputer, as well as the offices of the Gran Telescopio Canarias and the MAGIC collaboration.
    Address

    Apartado de Correos 50
    C/ Cuesta de San José, s/n
    E-38712 - Breña Baja - La Palma 
    España

    Contact

    Phone number
    (34) 922 425 700
    Fax
    (34) 922 425 701
    Email
    calp [at] iac.es
    Location
    @28.64603,-17.771828
  • IACTec building
    IACTec
    The IACTec building is the headquarters of the IACTec teams (Space, Medical Technology and Large Telescopes): it has office capacity for up to 70 people and more than 500m2 of clean rooms, training rooms and events, all dedicated to the R + D + i and the transfer of technology and public-private cooperation.
    Address

    Edificio IACTec, Parque  Tecnológico y Científico de las Mantecas, 38320 La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    Contact

    Phone number
    922605200
    Fax
    922605210
    Email
    info.iactec [at] iac.es
    Location
    @28.467595,-16.296402
Mission

To promote and carry out all kinds of research into astrophysics and its related fields, and to develop and transfer all related technology; to spread astronomical knowledge, collaborate in university teaching, and train scientific and technical staff in all areas related to astrophysics; to administer existing and future centres, observatories, and astronomical facilities, including any that may be incorporated into its administration, together with any subsidiary entities; and to foster relations with the national and international scientific communities.

Mission
Goal

International leadership in astrophysics through achieving excellent scientific and technological results, boosting the Observatorios de Canarias as an "astronomical reserve", attracting top level research infrastructures thereby making them a European centre of excellence for the training of research and technical staff, and transferring knowledge among scientific communities.

Goal
History
Decades of astronomy in the Canaries
/en/about-us/history
Organigram
The diagram of our structure and the distribution of personnel
/en/about-us/organigram
Cooperation agreements
Cooperation in Astrophysics, effective and necessary
/en/about-us/cooperation-agreements
Annual reports
All the activity of the IAC year by year
/en/about-us/annual-reports