Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço

New catalogue reveals major gap in knowledge about the most extreme objects in the Universe

Using data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, collected over 16 years, a team led by a researcher from the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço has revealed that we do not know the distance to most of the highest-energy cosmic sources ever detected — a fact that has significant implications for our understanding of the most extreme phenomena in the Universe.
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Jarle Brinchmann is the new Director of Science of the European Southern Observatory

The until now coordinator of Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço and professor at Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, will manage all scientific aspects of the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe.
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Euclid Space Telescope reveals multiple discoveries

Based on 34 articles published today , the Euclid Consortium, which includes several Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço researchers, revealed a large number of new scientific results.
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First 3D observations of an exoplanet's atmosphere

In an article published today in Nature, a team, with several Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço researchers, was able to map three separate layers in the atmosphere of exoplanet WASP-121b.
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ESPRESSO detects super-earth in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star

The exoplanet HD 20974 d, discovered by a team that includes several Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço researchers, has an orbit similar to Mars, which places him in the habitable zone of its star.
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James Webb Space Telescope offers best glimpse into the ice of the early Solar System

A team that includes an Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço researcher used the James Webb Space Telescope to identify, categorize its chemistry, dynamics and place of birth of a few Trans-Neptunian Objects.
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Portuguese researcher participates
in the planing of a NASA telescope

The Roman space telescope will have a contribution
from the European Space Agency (ESA), which selected
for one of the committees of this north-American consortium
a researcher of the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA)
for his experience in the Euclid Consortium.
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New technology from IA
closer to go into orbit

European Space Agency (ESA) approved the first
prototype of a precision system for the largest
X-ray telescope, developed by a team led by
the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA).
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A rare Venus solar transit helps
unravel exoplanet atmospheres

A team led by the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) analysed data
from this century’s last Venus solar transit and validated methods to study
the atmosphere of Earth-sized exoworlds.
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Scientists discover exoplanet orbiting closest single star to our Sun

Barnard b, an exoplanet with half the mass of Venus, was discovered by a team that includes several Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço researchers.
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Most detailed infrared map ever of our Milky Way revealed

This map is the result of two observational surveys, spanning over more
than 13 years, that had the participation of an Instituto de Astrofísica
e Ciências do Espaço collaborator.
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Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço paves the way in the field of Exoclimatology

Three papers about “hot jupiter” WASP-76 b, led by Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço researchers, will be the foundation for understanding the global climate of a giant exoplanet.
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Six new worlds discovered
adrift in a cradle of stars

An international team with the participation of the
Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA)
used the James Webb telescope to find planetary-mass
objects, but freely moving in interstellar space.
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World experts in asteroseismology gather in international conference in Porto

The largest conference in the field of asteroseismology is organized by
Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço, and is being held in
Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto.
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Want to work with us and help to shape the future of Astrophysics?

See the list of open opportunities
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INSTITUTE OF
ASTROPHYSICS AND
SPACE SCIENCES

The Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA) is a research infrastructure with a national dimension. It embodies a bold vision for the development of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences in Portugal, taking full advantage and fully realizing the potential created by the national membership of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO).

WHAT IS IA? | TEAM | OPPORTUNITIES | INTRANET

RESEARCH

The research and development effort at the IA includes most of the topics presently, and for the next decade, at the forefront of research in Astrophysics and Space Sciences, from the Solar System to the large-scale properties of the Universe, complemented by work on instrumentation and systems with potential use in Astronomy and Astrophysics projects.

TRAINING

The provision of advanced training is also at the core of IA, with the support of teaching and research at undergraduate and postgraduate level in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences related degrees, in particular at the Universities of Lisbon and Porto, where such degrees have more solid backing. The Doctoral networks PhD::SPACE and DAEPHYS, recently funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), are examples of the commitment of IA in this area.

TRAINING AT IA | PHD::SPACE | IA PHD STUDENTSHIPS | SCIENTIFIC INITIATION STUDENTSHIPS | SKIES TRAINING

OUTREACH

The public outreach groups of IA are recognized as Outreach ESO partners, engaging in a broad range of public outreach activities, most of them based at the Porto Planetarium and at the Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon. Our main objective in outreach is to be the prime source of information on Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences topics for the media and the public in Portugal, and to improve the public awareness of the latest and most relevant findings in Astrophysics and Space Sciences.

OUTREACH