CARMENES, an outstanding novel astronomical instrument, which has been designed to look for Earth-like planets, has successfully passed first “on-sky” tests at the telescope. Scientists and engineers of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) have participated in the design and construction of the new “planet hunter”.

PKS 1441+25, half-way between the Big Bang and us, will help to explain the evolution of stars and galaxies for the second half of the lifetime of the Universe.

Every year at about this date the Earth in its orbit round the Sun meets up with a stream of particles from the asteroid 3200 Phaeton, which produces the meteor shower known as the Geminids. This year we had a good opportunity to observe them. The maximum of this shower, which was expected at 18.00 UT yesterday, December 14 th, occurred with the Moon just emerging from new. For that reason the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) wanted to present the spectacle to the general public through its website and the sky-live.tv portal. the meteor shower will be broadcast directly from

The maximum frequency of this meteor shower is expected to be at 18.00 hours UT on 14th December

The final meeting of the European DAGAL network will be coordinated by the IAC in the context of this international meeting

Mike Simmons, director of Astronomers without borders will also receive the "Gabrielle and Camille Flammarion Prize". The ceremony will take place tomorrow Friday 11th December in the Council Chamber of the Paris Observatory.