Nordic Optical Telescope

01/10/2026

👀 The LPQI project is moving forward, and we will soon conduct a proof of concept on the NOT and the TNG. Learn more about this exciting project here: https://lapalmaqi.es/about/

🔭 ¿Y si varios telescopios pudieran trabajar juntos como si fueran uno solo?
El proyecto La Palma Quantum Interferometer (LPQI) avanza en el desarrollo de una nueva tecnología para conectar telescopios del Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos mediante interferometría y sensores capaces de detectar fotones individuales.

El objetivo es alcanzar una resolución angular extraordinaria, de decenas de microsegundos de arco, que permitirá estudiar con mayor detalle objetos y fenómenos del Universo, como agujeros negros, exoplanetas y estrellas.

La primera fase conectará el Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) y el Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG), separados por unos 550 metros, para validar esta tecnología y sentar las bases de una futura red de telescopios.

El proyecto reúne a instituciones de España, Italia, Taiwán y los países nórdicos y puede contribuir también al desarrollo de nuevas capacidades tecnológicas en La Palma.

👉 Más información: https://www.iac.es/es/divulgacion/noticias/el-iac-impulsa-una-nueva-forma-de-observar-el-universo-conectando-telescopios-del-roque-de-los

22/09/2026

🎉 Porgiamo le nostre più sentite congratulazioni al Telescopio Nazionale Galileo per questo importante traguardo di 30 anni di eccellenza.

☕ The TNG is our closest neighbour at Roque de los Muchachos, but also at sea level, as our offices in San Antonio are right next door and are connected by the most important facility in any self-respecting organization: the coffee room.

🤝 Over the years, we have worked together on numerous projects and shared many experiences; this collaboration continues today and will continue into the future.

🤗 A small delegation from the NOT is spending this very special day with them in the mountain, but the entire staff, both on and off La Palma, wish them at least another 30 years of excellent scientific work alongside us and the other facilities at the observatory.

🎉 30 years of the TNG! 🔭✨

On 22 September we celebrate three decades since the inauguration of the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory.

For 30 years, the TNG has been part of the astronomical community, contributing to the study of the Universe and bringing together scientists, engineers and institutions from across the world.

Join us live as we mark this special anniversary with the people and institutions who have helped shape the TNG’s journey. 🌌

📅 22 September
🕦 11:30 WEST (UT+1)
📍 Roque de los Muchachos Observatory

▶️ Watch the celebration live: https://www.youtube.com/live/CzG2d8o6gM4

Let’s celebrate 30 years of astronomy, discovery and collaboration together! 🚀

Foto by Juan Antonio González Hernández

15/09/2026

🔭 El Nordic Optical Telescope convoca plazas para personas con una titulación mínima de Formación Profesional de Ciclo Superior en áreas tales como Automatización, Robótica Industrial, Electrónica, Mecatrónica u otras análogas, aunque también podrán optar a este contrato quienes posean una titulación de ingeniería o ingeniería técnica.

🏢 Esta oferta se enmarca dentro del proyecto "CONTRATACIÓN DE PERSONAL ALTAMENTE CUALIFICADO", suscrito con el Cabildo de La Palma para asegurar el relevo generacional y la formación especializada de personal joven en la isla. Las personas interesadas deberán estar inscritas en cualquiera de las dos oficinas de empleo (Santa Cruz de La Palma o Los Llanos de Aridane) antes del 15 de octubre de 2026.

🔎 Para más información:https://www.not.iac.es/news/Oferta_empleo_Cabildo_Sept_2026.pdf

🎥 Vídeo: Ben David Godson

11/09/2026

📢 Nordic Optical Telescope 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱 𝟳𝟰 (October 1, 2026 - April 1, 2027) released!

😌 We wish a successful observing run to all of you.

🔎 https://www.not.iac.es/observing/schedules/

18/08/2026

Don’t miss this interview with Astrid Lind Bouquin, one of our Student Support Astronomers through the Johannes Andersen Student Programme. Astrid comes from Danmarks Tekniske Universitet - DTU and shares how her time at the NOT has given her the opportunity to combine her university studies with hands-on experience at a professional telescope.

In the interview with KIF - Kvinder i Fysik, Astrid talks about what it is like to operate the NOT, from preparing instruments and planning observations to working independently through the night. She also reflects on her path into astronomy, life at an international observatory, and the opportunities the programme offers students to gain practical experience alongside their studies.

🌌 Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend a night working at an astronomical observatory?

Astrid Lind Bouquin knows.

A recent graduate from DTU Space, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet - DTU, Astrid is currently working as a Student Support Astronomer at the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) on La Palma. Her observing nights can involve everything from preparing instruments and filling detectors with liquid nitrogen to carrying out observations for researchers around the world - all while keeping an eye on the weather high on the mountain.

In our new KIF interview, Astrid gives us a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of life at a professional observatory. She talks about her research on X-ray binaries, learning to operate a telescope independently, living in an international community on La Palma, beautiful nights under the Milky Way - and even the snowstorm that taught her just how unforgiving conditions on the mountain can be.

Her advice to the next generation of astronomers is beautifully simple:

✨ “Astronomy belongs to everyone.”

Read the full interview and see more of Astrid’s photos from life and work at the observatory:
https://kvinderifysik.dk/2026/08/16/interview-with-astrid-lind-bouquin/

31/07/2026

🤩 We are excited to see the research paper "Investigation of Split Comet 240P/NEAT" featured today by AAS Nova, which highlights notable recent discoveries published in the American Astronomical Society journals.

☄️ The study investigates the fascinating behavior of comet 240P/NEAT after it split into multiple fragments, providing new insights into the physical processes that shape these icy visitors from the outer Solar System. All data included in this study were obtained with ALFOSC at the Nordic Optical Telescope.

🧐 Read the AAS Nova feature here:
https://aasnova.org/2026/07/31/spying-on-a-split-comet/

🎉 Congratulations to David Jewitt, Jane Luu and Yoonyoung Kim!

A recent study investigated the possible mechanisms that caused a known Jupiter-family comet to split in two.

24/04/2026

Today at our office, we had the pleasure of hosting a talk by Håkon Dahle from the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, titled:

“𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆-𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒔𝒂𝒓 𝒑𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑵𝑶𝑻 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑱𝑾𝑺𝑻”

The talk explored how strongly gravitationally lensed quasars can help address one of the most intriguing questions in modern cosmology: the Hubble tension, the discrepancy between early-Universe and late-Universe measurements of the Hubble constant, H₀.

Håkon also presented recent results on wide-separation lensed quasars, where galaxy clusters act as natural cosmic telescopes, magnifying distant quasars and their host galaxies. He discussed recent discoveries of these systems, time-delay measurements with the Nordic Optical Telescope, and follow-up observations with Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope.

Many thanks to Håkon for an inspiring presentation and to everyone who joined the discussion!

23/04/2026

📢 The Nordic Optical Telescope invites applications for observing time in 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱 𝟳𝟰, 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 - 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 📢

⏳ The deadline for receipt of the applications is 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗧 𝟭𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻.

In relation to the call for proposals, the following:
✔️ The 𝑅𝑎𝑝𝑖𝑑-𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒 (RRM) has now been successfully used, and we continue to develop further functionality improvements. For P74 in particular, we offer the RRM mode for ALFOSC only: imaging or spectroscopy.
✔️ Some of the lowest-ranked service-mode programs, based on the scientific ratings given by the OPC, will be given a '𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟-𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒' status and be executed in Queue-mode scheduling, but with low priority.
✔️ The double image polarimeter DIPol-UF remains available as a visitor instrument at the NOT. It allows for high-speed and high-precision broad-band polarimetry simultaneously in 3 pass-bands (BVR), but can also be used as a high-speed 3-band photometer. DIPol-UF is not a common-user instrument, but is only supported during specific periods. See for more information: https://www.not.iac.es/instruments/dipol-uf
✔️ The SOFIN high-resolution Echelle spectrograph is again available. It only is offered to do circular spectro-polarimetry with the medium-resolution (R~80,000) camera. SOFIN is not a common-user instrument: only limited support is provided.
✔️ Please contact our Director and the operations staff ([email protected]) well in advance of the application dead-line if you are making plans to use your own instrument at NOT.

You can find more information here: https://www.not.iac.es/observing/proposals

📷 Image credit & copyright: Urs Leutenegger

17/04/2026

Yesterday and today we participated in the 2nd edition of the Employment, Training, and Entrepreneurship Fair hosted by La Palma Empleo, from Cabildo de La Palma (the Island Council). We shared a booth with our colleagues from Gran Telescopio Canarias and the CTAO to showcase our work to the local community and inform them about the training and employment opportunities available at the observatory.

As you can see in the photos, the LEGO model of the NOT—our best ambassador—made a special appearance and was there as well. We loved spending time with the official representatives and the audience, and we hope everyone enjoyed the experience.