News

This section includes scientific and technological news from the IAC and its Observatories, as well as press releases on scientific and technological results, astronomical events, educational projects, outreach activities and institutional events.

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  • XXXVII Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics
    Press release
    The IAC is preparing to host the 37th Winter School of Astrophysics on massive stars
    The Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics (IAC) is organising the 37th Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics, which will take place in San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife) from 16 to 27 November 2026. This edition will focus on the study of massive stars as tools for understanding processes ranging from star formation to gravitational wave events and core-collapse supernovae. The training programme is aimed at around 75 students on advanced master’s and doctoral programmes, as well as postdoctoral researchers in the early stages of their careers. Over the course of two weeks
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  • low_mass_xray_binaries
    Research news
    Ubiquitous yet forgotten: Broad absorptions in the optical spectra of low-mass X-ray binaries
    Low-mass X-ray binaries are systems in which a star transfers matter onto a compact object—either a black hole or a neutron star—producing energetic outbursts. During these events, their optical spectra provide a way to study extreme processes of accretion and matter ejection. While some spectroscopic features have been analysed in detail (e.g., revealing disc expansion and the presence of optical winds), the appearance of broad absorptions in the optical regime has traditionally been neglected. In this work, we present the first systematic study of these broad absorptions. We carry out the
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  • Sequence of a total solar eclipse
    Press release
    The IAC is launching the NATE experiment in Palencia to coincide with the total solar eclipse on 12 Augustwith the support of the Government of the Canary Islands
    On 12 August, to mark the total eclipse that will be visible across much of Spain, various towns in Palencia — including the capital, Frómista and Carrión de los Condes — will host a series of observation and outreach events bringing together scientists and students from Spain, Morocco and the United States. This event will serve as a training exercise for the NATE experiment, which will take place in North Africa during the next total eclipse next year, and will act as a meeting point between depopulated areas of Spain, the outermost regions, and Moroccan, American and Spanish students and
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  • Cartel de la formación abierta y gratuita "El Sol y el trío de eclipses 2026-2027-2028", que se desarrollará del 5 mayo al 12 junio de 2026.
    Press release
    La comunidad educativa podrá prepararse para el trío de eclipses solares con una nueva formación abierta y en línea
    España está a punto de vivir un fenómeno astronómico extraordinario y sin precedentes en décadas: dos eclipses totales de Sol, en 2026 y 2027, y uno anular, en 2028, que serán visibles desde nuestro territorio. Con el objetivo de que tanto el profesorado como la ciudadanía en general puedan aprovechar al máximo la oportunidad educativa única que suponen estos eventos y hacer un seguimiento seguro de los mismos, se pone en marcha la formación abierta y gratuita "El Sol y el trío de eclipses 2026-2027-2028", que se desarrollará del 5 mayo al 12 junio de 2026. La inscripción permanecerá abierta
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  • Imagen de portada del libro ‘Eclipses. El Sol y sus eclipses en la ciencia, la historia y las artes’ /
    Press release
    Eva Villaver participa en la presentación del libro ‘Eclipses. El Sol y sus eclipses en la ciencia, la historia y las artes’
    Los seres humanos han seguido los movimientos regulares del Sol y la Luna desde las civilizaciones más remotas y a lo largo y ancho del planeta Tierra. Ocasionalmente, el Sol se oscurecía o la Luna se teñía de rojo y esto dio lugar a múltiples interpretaciones más o menos disparatadas. A menudo estos eventos se consideraron como signos de malos augurios, aunque también inspiraron mitos de carácter más lúdico e incluso amoroso. Con ocasión de los tres eclipses solares que serán visibles desde España en 2026, 2027 (totales) y 2028 (anular) y que constituyen una tríada astronómica excepcional
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  • An artistic impression of a nanojet ejection triggered by the interaction of two magnetic flux ropes within a coronal loop in the Sun’s atmosphere.
    Press release
    A new model provides an explanation for the tiny ‘nanojets’ observed on the Sun
    An international team of researchers led by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and the Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), has unveiled a breakthrough explanation for the origin of tiny, jet-like plasma ejections in the solar atmosphere, known as “nanojets.” These elusive events which are recently discovered by the NASA’s solar telescopes are thought to play an important role in heating and sustaining the solar corona at temperatures above one million Kelvin. Why Study Nanojets? For decades, solar physicists have been puzzled by the so-called “coronal heating problem.” While the Sun
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