Observing the nucleus of a comet is difficult, because comets are normally active near the sun which means that their nuclei are hidden by their comae. 124P/Mrkos is a low-activity comet observed at 1.9 UA of the sun. The spectra of comets give us information not only about their composition, but also about the initial composition of the solar system. In this case the spectrum is very similar to that of the D- and P-type asteroids that typically populate the external part of the asteroid belt.

Ref 1: X1822-3711 | Ref 2: GX339-4 Detecting companion stars in these systems has been impossible until now. Thanks to a new technique developed at the IAC, they can now be detected through fluorescent CII/NIII emissions produced by X ray irradiation.

Using the Surface Brightness Fluctuation technique (SBF), IAC researchers have succeeded in detecting galaxies beyond Hubble's photometric detection limit. These new detections are fundamental for obtaining accurate information about the number of weak galaxies. This number is vital for Cosmology and for the theory of galaxy formation and evolution.

Los investigadores ya han hecho su primer descubrimiento con este instrumento: un candidato a planeta extrasolar de la masa de Saturno

Los políticos comprobarán la efectividad de la Ley del Cielo en Canarias, aprobada en 1988, que minimiza la contaminación lumínica

La charla será ofrecida por el Prof. Joseph Silk,de la Universidad de Oxford