ASTRONOMERS CAPTURE

THE FIRST IMAGE OF A BLACK HOLE

The Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia participates in this milestone, obtained with the Event Horizon Telescope

A JET DETECTED FROM THE MERGING

OF TWO NEUTRON STARS

The merging of the two stars, which occurred in August 2017, expelled a large amount of material
that has been observed so far by radiotelescopes on five continents

FIRST RESULTS FROM EXOMARS: ABSENCE OF METHANE ON MARS

AND VARIATIONS IN WATER VAPOR DUE TO DUST STORMS

Researchers from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC) participate in the results,
as well as in the scientific team that developed NOMAD

THE INSTITUTE OF ASTROPHYSICS OF ANDALUSIA (IAA-CSIC),

CENTER OF EXCELLENCE SEVERO OCHOA

The objective of the program is to finance and accredit research centers that demonstrate
international impact and leadership

Headlines

After a year in orbit around Mars, the TGO orbiter of the ExoMars mission (ESA-Roscosmos) reveals a surprising absence of methane and a relationship between dust storms and atmospheric water vapor. The results, published in Nature, were obtained with the ACS and NOMAD instruments. Researchers from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC) participate in the results, as well as in the scientific team that developed NOMAD

First results from the ExoMars misión: absence of methane on Mars and...

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First results from the ExoMars misión: absence of methane on Mars and variations in water vapor due to dust storms

The TGO orbiter of the ExoMars mission (ESA-Roscosmos) began in April 2018 its scientific mission from an orbit about four hundred kilometers above the surface of Mars. This distance allowed to study without risk a dust storm that covered the planet after a few months and to see how the increase of dust affected the water vapor in the atmosphere, essential data to understand the history of water on Mars. The journal Nature publishes these results today, as well as measures of trace gases that point to a lack of methane on Mars.
10/04/2019

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El Consejo de Gobierno de la Junta de Andalucía autoriza a la Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad, en su sesión de 9 de abril de 2019, la adhesión de la Administración de la Junta de Andalucía a la Agrupación de Interés Económico del Observatorio Astronómico de Calar Alto (CAHA) en Almería. Esta decisión concluye con los requerimientos necesarios para poder efectuar la firma del correspondiente convenio

The Governing Council of Junta de Andalucía authorizes its Administration...

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The Governing Council of Junta de Andalucía authorizes its Administration to endorse the Hispano-German Astronomical Center (CAHA)

On April 9th, 2019, the Governing Council of the regional government of Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía) authorized its Administration, through the Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Companies and University, to enter the Economic Interest Group of the Calar Alto Observatory (CAHA) in Almería. This decision is the last required step before the signature of the corresponding agreement.
10/04/2019

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Spanish astronomers from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), the National Geographic Institute, the Millimeter Radioastronomy Institute and the University of Valencia have participated in this work. This international study assumes a paradigm shift in observations of the supermassive black hole located in the center of the Messier 87 galaxy

Astronomers Capture First Image of a Black Hole

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Astronomers Capture First Image of a Black Hole

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) — a planet-scale array of eight ground-based radio telescopes forged through international collaboration — was designed to capture images of a black hole. Today, in coordinated press conferences across the globe, EHT researchers reveal that they have succeeded, unveiling the first direct visual evidence of a supermassive black hole and its shadow.

10/04/2019

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El objetivo de esta charla es presentar a todo el Instituto el I Plan de Igualdad de género. Plantearé las motivaciones y necesidades de contar con un plan de igualdad en un instituto de investigación, cuando ya el CSIC está preparando su III Plan...

Primer Plan de igualdad

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Primer Plan de igualdad del IAA

El objetivo de esta charla es presentar a todo el Instituto el I Plan de Igualdad de género. Plantearé las motivaciones y necesidades de contar con un plan de igualdad en un instituto de investigación, cuando ya el CSIC está preparando su III Plan de Igualdad. Revisaré los objetivos y marco de actuación de los planes del CSIC y mi visión de cómo el nuestro se hace para complementar algunas acciones no contempladas dentro de esa estructura general.

Dra. Josefa Masegosa
21/03/2019 - 12:30

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The merging of the two stars, which occurred in August 2017, expelled a large amount of material that has been observed so far by radiotelescopes on five continents

A jet detected from the merging of two neutron stars

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A jet detected from the merging of two neutron stars

An international team of astronomers, with the participation of researchers from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), has demonstrated the existence of a jet of matter emerging from the merging of two neutron stars, moving at speeds close to that of light. Scientists have used radiotelescopes located on five continents for the detection. The results are published in the scientific journal Science.
21/02/2019

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The Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC) obtainted in 2018 the distinction Center of Excellence Severo Ochoa

First formal meeting between the Minister Pedro Duque and the alliance of...

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First formal meeting between the Minister Pedro Duque and the alliance of Severo Ochoa centres and María de Maeztu units, SOMMa

On past Monday, February the 11th, took place a formal meeting at the highest level between representatives of the ministry and the Severo Ochoa – María de Maeztu alliance (SOMMa). The gathering, that took place in the context of the visit of the Minister to the ALBA synchrotron, certified the first formal meeting between the alliance and the Minister Mr Pedro Duque.
12/02/2019

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The Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia joins the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which seeks to make visible the scientific work of women and promote vocations in girls

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

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International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Currently, women and girls encounter barriers of many types, sometimes very subtle, that make their presence in science difficult. This inequality is evident in the choice of studies by girls and it becomes more acute as they advance in scientific and technological careers. With the objective of achieving full and equal access and participation in science for women and girls, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, on December 15, 2015 the General Assembly of the United Nati
07/02/2019

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The AAO is a consortium of three Australian instrumentation groups, based at Macquarie University, University of Sydney, and the Australian National University. Collectively, the consortium has delivered hundreds of instrument projects for astr...

Instrument development at the AAO

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Instrument development at the AAO

The AAO is a consortium of three Australian instrumentation groups, based at Macquarie University, University of Sydney, and the Australian National University. Collectively, the consortium has delivered hundreds of instrument projects for astronomy, for our own telescopes and internationally. We have particular expertise in fibre positioners and fibre systems, spectrographs, astro-photonics, and adaptive optics. I will give an overview of the consortium and our key projects.

Jon Lawrence
19/02/2019 - 12:00

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In this seminar I will describe the results of a large study designed to determine the input rate of cosmic dust to the terrestrial atmosphere, using a self-consistent treatment of cosmic dust from the outer solar system to the Earth’s surface.

Cosmic Dust in Planetary Atmospheres

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Cosmic Dust in Planetary Atmospheres

In this seminar I will describe the results of a large study designed to determine the input rate of cosmic dust to the terrestrial atmosphere, using a self-consistent treatment of cosmic dust from the outer solar system to the Earth’s surface. An astronomical model which tracks the evolution of dust from various sources into the inner solar system was combined with a chemical ablation model to determine the rate of injection of metallic vapours into the atmosphere.

John Plane
25/04/2019 - 12:30

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A work, lead by the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC) and published in Nature, studies in detail the death of a massive star that produced a gamma-ray burst (GRB) and a hypernova

Observations of a rare hypernova complete the picture of the death of the...

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Observations of a rare hypernova complete the picture of the death of the most massive stars

The end of a star’s life can occur in a tranquil manner in the case of low mass stars, such as the Sun. This is not the case, however, for very massive stars, which suffer such extreme explosive events that they can outshine the brightness of the whole galaxy that hosts them. An international group of astronomers has published a detailed study of the death of a high-mass star that produced a gamma-ray burst (GRB) and a hypernova, in which they have detected a new component in this type of events.
16/01/2019

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Three studies with the infrared channel of the CARMENES instrument, developed at the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), are published in the journals "Science" and "Astronomy & Astrophysics". CARMENES opens a door to the study from the ground of the composition of exoplanetary atmospheres, their escape processes and their clouds and aerosols

The "planet-hunter" CARMENES studies evaporating atmospheres and water...

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The "planet-hunter" CARMENES studies evaporating atmospheres and water vapor beyond the Solar System

With more than three thousand eight hundred extrasolar planets detected to date, the next step is to describe their characteristics and know these worlds in detail.
06/12/2018

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LUCA is proposed as a new generation instrument for the 3.5 meter telescope of the Calar Alto Observatory (Almería, CAHA). The project, conceived in the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), has been selected by the advisory committee of the observatory for the funding of the feasibility study, which is managed by the University of Almeria (UAL)

A new instrument for studying galaxies in the local universe from Calar...

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A new instrument for studying galaxies in the local universe from Calar Alto

Calar Alto Observatory remains at the forefront of Astronomy thanks to its firm commitment with technological renovation, which resulted this year in the call for the development of a new instrument for the 3.5-m telescope. The selected project has been LUCA (Local Universe from Calar Alto), which aims to unravel physical processes at small enough scale to study how the star formation and evolution affects the formation and evolution of galaxies in our local universe.
27/11/2018

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Annual activity reports

Annual activity reports

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Annual activity reports

2017 annual activity report released !

At 22:25 in the evening (local time) of December 11 a brilliant fireball crossed the south of Spain and was recorded from the Sierra Nevada Observatory (Granada).

Fireball on Granada on December 11, 2016

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Fireball on Granada on December 11, 2016

At 22:25 in the evening (local time) of December 11 a brilliant fireball crossed the south of Spain. The fireball, which overflew the provinces of Granada and Jaén, could be seen from much of the country. The phenomenon has been recorded from the Sierra Nevada Observatory (Granada), as well as from the meteor detection stations operating under the SMART Project from the observatories of La Hita (Toledo), Calar Alto (Almería), La Sagra (Granada) and Seville.

12/12/2016

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The Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia participates in the candidacy of Granada as "City of Science"

The IAA participates in Granada City of Science

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The Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia participates in the candidacy of Granada as "City of Science"

The mayor of Granada, Francisco Cuenca, has conducted a public event in which he has introduced the proposal submitted yesterday to the Secretary of State for Science and Innovation. Representatives of the Government of Andalusia, the University of Granada, The Technological Health Park, the Higher Council for Scientific Research and the Science Park have attended the event.
08/11/2016

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The broadcast, which will take place on Wednesday 19 at 18pm, coincides with the entry into orbit around Mars of the TGO module and the the Schiaparelli module landing on the red planet, both of the ExoMars (ESA) mission

Preview of Upwards, the documentary

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La 2 premieres documentary about UPWARDS, a project for the study of Mars led by the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia

The UPWARDS project is coordinated by the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), with the participation of seven European scientific institutions. It will develop new analytical techniques to exploit the Mars Express and ExoMars data. Among the activities to publicize the project is the documentary "Rediscovering Mars: UPWARDS project", which airs today at 18h in La 2 of Spanish Television.

19/10/2016

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New Instrumentation and Legacy Projects for Calar Alto

New Instrumentation and Legacy Projects for Calar Alto

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New Instrumentation and Legacy Projects for Calar Alto

Calar Alto Observatory constitutes an astronomical reference for the international scientific community for the quality of its telescopes and astronomical instrumentation.

10/10/2016

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Special issue of the IAA: Información y Actualidad Astronómica magazine to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia

40th anniversary of the IAA

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40 aniversario del IAA

We wanted to celebrate the anniversary of the IAA with a special issue of this magazine which, with over a decade of life, is also part of the history of the center.
02/11/2016

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La visita se enmarca en un reciente acuerdo de colaboración para mejorar la calidad del cielo

Visit of the Delegation of Environment of the Junta de Andalucía at Sierra...

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Visit of the Delegation of Environment of the Junta de Andalucía at Sierra Nevada Observatory

On Thursday September 15 the Delegate of Environment of the Junta de Andalucía, Inmaculada Oria, visited the Sierra Nevada Observatory (OSN). The visit is part of a collaboration agreement between the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA) and the Provincial Delegation which began following the First Day of Sky Quality held last June.

The visit was also attended by the Mayor of Monachil, Jose Morales, Councilman Environment of the City of Monachil, Franciso Alvarez, and the Director of the Sierra Nevada National Park, Javier Sanchez.

19/09/2016

The dark sky as equity or fighting light pollution constitute some of the axes of the session. The conference seeks to create a meeting place where the various actors involved in the protection of Andalusian sky will exchange knowledge, perspectives and experiences

The IAA hosts a conference on the quality of the sky

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The IAA hosts a conference on the quality of the sky

Tomorrow will be held at the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), a technical conference which seeks to establish a strategy for joint action among the various regional actors involved in the protection of the sky.
27/06/2016

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Seminars, meetings, outreach conferences and training sessions.

Conferences and events calendar
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Conferences and events calendar

Check out the list of events and conferences.

Seminars

Scientitifc meetings

Lucas Lara outreach conferences

Manuel Félix Herrera training sessions

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Research

Technology

The scientific activities of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía require the analysis, design, prototyping, manufacture and integration of astrophysical instrumentation. To carry out all these tasks the Instrumental and Technological Development Unit UDIT has a Mechanical department, Optics laboratories, Electronics and Software as well as two clean rooms of ISO 8 class.

Space Projects

UDIT

Ground-based Instrumentation

Technology Areas

Contribution in the technological areas of Electronics, Mechanics, Optics, Project Management and Software.

Clean Rooms

Among our facilities we have clean rooms for testing and assembly equipment that require special conditions of environmental cleanup.

Optical Engineering Service

We provide related to optical metrology and optical engineering consultancy services.

Cosmic Dust Laboratory

Designed to study the dispersion of light in dust samples that are of interest in the field of astrophysics.

Optical Laboratory

Dedicated to the maintenance and development of optical telescopes and astronomical instrumentation in the visible and near infrared.

Partners

Companies and technology centers collaborators in projects carried out in the center.

Instituto Astrofísica Andalucía

The Instituto Astrofísica Andalucía (IAA) is an institute belonging to the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) in Granada - Andalucía. The activities of the IAA - CSIC are related to research in the field of astrophysics and the development of instrumentation for telescopes and spacecraft.

Presentation

General overview of the activities carried out in the IAA - CSIC, organization and internal structure, as well as some of its history.

Career

Jobs, scholarships and contracts granted, and any relevant administrative information for members of the IAA - CSIC.

External Scientific Advisory Board

General aims and composition of the external scientific advisory board in IAA - CSIC

Associated Units

Description and composition of groups and scientific units associated with the IAA - CSIC.

Computer Center

Responsible for the communications and computing infrastructure needed in scientific research and business partnerships.

Activity Reports

Check out the different activities in the IAA - CSIC through the annual reports published in recent years.

Members

List of personnel assigned to IAA - CSIC through its scientific departments and internal units.

IAA International Office

The main goal of the IAA International Office is to improve the fund raising level of the centre by securing funds beyond the support already provided by national and international grants.

Funded Projects

Scientific and technological projects led by IAA - CSIC members

Intranet

Access to restricted information for personnel assigned to IAA - CSIC through its intranet.

Outreach

Ciclo de Conferencias Lucas Lara

El TeslaBlog

El diario de Henrietta Leavitt

Deconstruyendo la luz

Revista IAA

Astronomía accesible

Astronomía Accesible

Astronomical Observatories

Sierra Nevada Calar Alto

The Sierra Nevada Observatory (OSN) is a high mountain observatory located in Loma de Dilar, in the ski resort of the Sierra Nevada mountain range (Granada). The OSN is operated, maintained and supplied by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC). It consists of a main building which hosts two Nasmyth optical telescopes of 90-cm and 1.50-m diameter each, as well as a 60-cm IR semi-automated telescope and a 35-cm telescope.

The German-Spanish Astronomical Center at Calar Alto is located in the Sierra de Los Filabres (Andalucía, Southern Spain) north of Almeria. It is operated jointly by the Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie (MPIA) in Heidelberg, Germany, and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC) in Granada/Spain. Calar Alto provides three telescopes with apertures of 1.23m, 2.2m and 3.5m to the general community. A 1.5m-telescope, also located on the mountain, is operated under the control of the Observatory of Madrid.

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Address

Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía
Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n, 18008 Granada
Telephone: (+34) 958 12 13 11
Fax: (+34) 958 814 530

Postal Address

Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía
Apartado 3004,18080 Granada

Take a taxi to the IAA or your hotel directly. There are some buses from the aiport to Granada, but they are not syncronous with the planes...

At the train station, ask for Av. de la Constitución and get on bus LAC to Palacio de Congresos. Get off Palacio de Congresos stop and change to bus S2, direction to Villa Argaz. This bus has a stop very close to the IAA, only a few meters.

At the bus station, get on bus SN2 to Palacio de Congresos. Get off at the bus stop Tierno Galván - Palacio de Congresos and change to bus S2 to Villa Argaz. The S2 route passes in front of the IAA. Get off at the first stop of Camino Bajo de Huétor Street, then walk for a few seconds and you'll be here.