Category: News

The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM), located on the summit of the island of La Palma, is one of the most important astronomical sites in the world. Its altitude of 2,396 metres above sea level, low humidity, clear skies for most of the year and strict regulations against light pollution have made this place a benchmark for astronomical observation. The ORM houses an extensive network of optical, infrared and high-energy telescopes, operated by scientific institutions from more than 20 countries. Thanks to its advanced infrastructure, it has been instrumental in research on exoplanets, cosmology, high-energy astrophysics, and stellar and galactic evolution. In this article we explore the history of the ORM, its main facilities and the contribution of the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), which recently reached the milestone of 1 000 scientific publications. Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC): A Milestone in Modern Astrophysics Design and Capabilities of the GTC The Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), also known as ‘GRANTECAN’, is the largest optical-infrared telescope in the world. Its 10.4-metre primary mirror, composed of 36 hexagonal segments, allows it to capture an unprecedented amount of light, achieving exceptional resolution and sensitivity. The GTC is equipped with a series of state-of-the-art instruments that allow it to address a wide range of astronomical research: * OSIRIS (Optical System for Imaging and low-Intermediate-Resolution Integrated Spectroscopy): high-sensitivity spectrograph and camera, ideal for the study of distant galaxies. * MEGARA (Multi-Espectrógrafo en GTC de Alta Resolución para Astronomía): Allows integral field spectroscopy in great detail. * EMIR (Multi-Object Infrared Spectrograph): Designed for the study of star formation in the early universe. Scientific Milestone: 1,000 Scientific Publications The GTC has recently reached a record 1,000 scientific publications, consolidating its position as one of the most productive infrastructures in astrophysics worldwide. Its studies have covered a wide variety of