Author: jcasals

This May, the Montsec Observatory (OdM) has inaugurated its new Rapid Wide-Field Telescope (TRAC). This advanced instrument will significantly enhance the observatory’s capabilities, allowing for the observation of potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids and the tracking of satellites and space debris.

The TRAC project is led by the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), with participation of IFAE and i2CAT and it is funded through the 2024 CERCAGINYS III program, with contributions from Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Catalan Government’s Department of Research and Universities, and the CERCA Institution.

PIC will provide robust data storage and access for the large datasets TRAC will generate, while the i2CAT Foundation will perform R&D on future optical communications systems.

The European Space Agency’s Euclid mission released its first batch of survey data, including a preview of its deep fields.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms in combination with citizen science campaigns, the Euclid Consortium scientific results include the discovery of strong gravitational lensing systems, the exploration of galaxy clusters and the cosmic web, the characterisation of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and quasars, studies on galaxy evolution and morphology, and the identification of numerous dwarf galaxies and transients.

Spain has an important role in the Euclid mission, with a prominent role in the Consortium that has led the mission from its origin as well as the development of its instrumentation, data processing and scientific exploitation.

PIC is one of the nine data centers of the mission, in charge of implementing and running the data processing pipelines, as well as generating and distributing the Euclid Flagship mock catalog.

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