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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  • Valentín Martínez Pillet
    Press release
    El director del IAC, Valentín Martínez Pillet, analizará la relación con nuestra estrella, el Sol, en la Real Sociedad Económica Amigos de El País
    En el marco del CXLVIII aniversario del nacimiento del ilustre científico canario Blas Cabrera y Felipe, la Real Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País de Tenerife (RSEAPT) acogerá una conferencia a cargo de Valentín Martínez Pillet, director del Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) y experto en Física Solar. La charla tendrá lugar el próximo martes 24 de febrero a las 18:00 horas en la sede de esta institución en La Laguna. Bajo el título “Viviendo con una estrella: el bueno, el feo y el malo”, Martínez Pillet explorará la relación entre la Tierra y el Sol. La charla, que forma parte
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  • Recreación artística de Euclid, misión de la ESA cuyo objetivo es cartografiar la geometría del universo oscuro
    Press release
    Fernando Buitrago responde a la pregunta ‘¿De qué está hecho el 95% del Cosmos?’ el próximo martes en el MCC
    El Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos (MCC) y el Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) ofrece la oportunidad de reflexionar sobre la pregunta ¿De qué está hecho el 95% del Cosmos? La respuesta la dará el profesor Fernando Buitrago Alonso en una charla abierta al público en el MCC, del Organismo Autónomo de Museos y Centros de Tenerife, el próximo martes 24 de febrero a las 18:00 horas. Como es habitual, la conferencia será libre y gratuita hasta completar aforo. Bajo el título "Euclid: el telescopio Hubble europeo, pero con esteroides", Buitrago explicará por qué, aunque Euclid no sea tan
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  • IACTEC Espacio en el foro internacional SSSIF26
    Press release
    The IAC promotes its space technology at the international SSSIF 2026 forum
    The team from IACTEC Espacio, the department of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) dedicated to developing space technology for small satellites, is taking part this week in the Small Satellites & Services International Forum (SSSIF) 2026, held from 17 to 19 February in Málaga. In this seventh edition, the international forum consolidates itself as one of the main meeting points for the small satellite sector, under the motto “Secure Communications & Other Dual Technologies.” IACTEC Espacio is participating as an exhibitor with its own stand, where it presents its main
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  • mass-radius_diag_lacedelli
    Research news
    Sibling sub-Neptunes around sibling M dwarfs: TOI-521 and TOI-912
    Sub-Neptunes - planets larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune - are the most common type of planet in our Galaxy, yet they are entirely absent from our own Solar System. This absence makes them a major focus for astronomers seeking to understand planetary formation and evolution. We recently conducted an international study, as part of the THIRSTEE project, to characterize two such planets orbiting very similar small, cool stars known as M dwarfs: TOI-521 and TOI-912 . THIRSTEE is an observational-based program that aims to shed light on the sub-Neptune population by providing an
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  • National Hub of Excellence in Quantum Communications meeting
    Press release
    The National Hub of Excellence in Quantum Communications holds its general meeting at IACTEC
    The National Hub of Excellence in Quantum Communications held its general meeting on 10 and 11 February at the IACTEC building, located in the Tenerife Science and Technology Park. The event brought together representatives from Spain’s leading public institutions in the field of quantum technologies, consolidating the coordinated efforts undertaken within this strategic initiative. On Tuesday, 10 February, the programme addressed the Hub’s strategic vision within the national and European context, highlighting its alignment with Spain’s Quantum Technologies Strategy (2025–2030) and with
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  • Eclipse caused by a super-Jupiter or brown dwarf with massive rings
    Press release
    A giant ring system around a substellar object causes a rare nine-month eclipse of its host star
    An international scientific team, involving the University of La Laguna (ULL) and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), has identified the cause of an unusually long dimming of a distant star . The phenomenon is explained by the passage of a substellar object with a giant ring system, similar to a ‘cosmic saucer’, in front of the host star. The star, named ASASSN-24fw, is located in the Monoceros constellation at about 3,000 light-years away from Earth. The star faded steadily for more than nine months between late 2024 and mid-2025 to about 97% dark before returning to its normal
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