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Teachers, science communicators, we need you!
Find out about the interdisciplinary educational resources we offer and help us improve their content.
Please take this short survey.
In recent years, the education and outreach teams in the Europlanet 2024 Research Infrastructure (RI) project, the Europlanet Society’s Outreach Working Group and the Europlanet Early Careers (EPEC) network have developed a number of resources to support teaching of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) subjects. Among these, we have created ready-to-use planetary science and astrobiology lessons and associated hands-on activities.
As teachers, educators, and science engagement practitioners, we need your expertise and opinion on the most recent resources we have developed. We would also like to understand your interests and use of planetary science resources, and if/how your needs and practices have changed since the Covid-19 pandemic.
We would very much appreciate your help by filling this short survey!
We thank you in advance for your valuable help in making this consultation successful!
The Europlanet Education Team.
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3rd Call for Applications for Free Access to Laboratories and Field Sites
- The program will close on 20 October 2022 -
This network currently provides access to 16 different telescope facilities distributed all over the world, with telescopes up to 2 meters in diameter, 14 of which are either robotic or provide service observations, and continue to operate despite COVID-19. Proposals are invited on any topic broadly related to Solar System or exoplanet observations. Short proposals (max 3 pages) and can be submitted at any time; decisions on funding are made on a bi-monthly basis.
Further details on the call and on how to apply can be found at the call website [https://bit.ly/2Br5LDt]; our telescope table [https://bit.ly/31zYpa1] holds a broad range of information and contact data on all the facilities in the network. To apply, please contact the relevant facilities first, agree on observing time, and then submit your funding proposal. If you have further questions on the call or if you are interested in organizing a coordinated observations campaign that would like to make use of the Europlanet Telescope Network, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Proposals are also invited for support to host workshops on any topic related to observational planetary science. Europlanet is particularly keen to support meetings bringing together professional and amateur astronomers, and/or on observations supporting space missions, but all relevant topics will be considered. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to propose ideas or for more information.
Europlanet 2024 Research Infrastructure (RI)
Europlanet 2024 Research Infrastructure (RI) provides free access to the world's largest collection of planetary analysis and simulation facilities, data tools and services, an Earth observation network, and a program of community support activities.
The project is funded through the Horizon 2020 program of the European Commission and has a duration of four years from February 2020 to January 2024. The Europlanet 2024 RI consortium is led by the University of Kent, United Kingdom, and has 53 beneficiary institutions in 21 countries in and around Europe. in the world, with 44 more affiliated partners. The project draws on the resources of the Europlanet Society to disseminate activities and results and develop a more diverse user community.
Europlanet 2024 RI offers:
- Transnational access to 24 laboratories in Europe and five field sites.
- Virtual access to services and tools.
- Networking activities to support the community and provide rapid response observations to support planetary missions.
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| VESPA is a Virtual Observatory (VO) for Solar System sciences by adapting standard VO techniques and developing new tools and standards specifically designed for planetary science data. | PVOL stands for Planetary Virtual Observatory and Laboratory and is a searchable database of terrestrial observations of planets in the solar system. The images are available by amateur astronomers and are used for research purposes by various professional and amateur teams and for the popularization of astronomy. |
Earth-based observations play an important role in the study of planets, asteroids, and comets. Many planetary science targets are relatively close and bright compared to other astronomical targets, but the scientific result of their observation requires long-term monitoring, (for example, atmospheric activity of planets in the solar system), or synchronization. very precise, (for example, asteroids and comets). This combination of characteristics produces a unique set of challenges, as it matters so much where on Earth it is observed and precisely when. However, relatively small telescopes can produce world-class science.
Europlanet 2024 RI organizes the cooperation of a network of small telescopes to facilitate and coordinate observation campaigns related to different planetary science topics. It will alert the appropriate facilities of opportunities and ensure that adequately trained observers are available.
The main objectives of this campaign are:
- Coordinate a network of small telescope installations (telescope diameters around 0.6-1.7 m) to react quickly and effectively to observation alerts.
- Coordinate long-term professional and amateur observation campaigns and time-limited observations of objects in the Solar System, expanding the participation of amateur astronomers in planetary science.
- Train and support amateur astronomers and integrate them into the planetary scientific community.
- Ensure observational data from small telescope facilities is available through VESPA.
- Integrate the network into the activities of Europlanet 2024 RI, the Europlanet Society and the broader community of planetary sciences in Europe and beyond.
The 'Access to Telescopes' program is linked to the Astronomy of the Solar System (excluding solar physics) plus exoplanets and contemplates the participation of groups that typically cannot access these telescopes, such as amateur astronomers and doctoral students, without undermining more experienced users. The application system will be anonymous, (the evaluators will not know who is requesting the time, only their proposal), and it will be done by the simplified method, thus facilitating the participation of amateurs.
-- Application form. The deadline for submitting applications is from June 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023. More information on the evaluation and proposal selection processes, here.
Europlanet will not participate in the process of selecting proposals or obtaining observation time, but it will provide funds to be able to attend the observations, as well as to pay the costs associated with the observation time. If not all applications can be supported, those that have connections with the professional community and / or represent new collaborations between amateur groups will be promoted.
From the Iberian Node of Europlanet, (Spain and Portugal), we want to promote the participation of the Iberian community. If you need help to guide ideas or facilitate collaborations, you can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., from the Iberian Node, or also This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. from the Executive Board, or by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Among the telescopes available, (more than twenty to which others will be added), are the 1.2 m from Calar Alto, the IAC80, the Las Cumbres Observatory telescopes, including its 2.0 m, the Danish 1.54 m from La Silla (Chile), and many others from Central and Eastern Europe.
| Location / Institution | Group / Contact | Description / Resources / Missions ... | ||
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Internal structure and impact processes in asteroids Missions: Hera-Dart Others projects: CFEPS, NEO-MAPP |
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| Barcelona | ||||
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Meteoritos, asteroides, cometas y ciencias planetarias
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Meteorites, Asteroids, Comets and Planetary Sciences Infrastructure: Laboratory Missions: Hera-Dart, Stardust, Hayabusa Others projects: Red de Bólidos SPMN-FRIPON |
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Instituto de Técnicas Energéticas This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Meteorite Sample Analysis Laboratory Infrastructure: Laboratory |
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Instrumentation development Infrastructure: Instrumentation Missions: MSL/REMS, Insight-TWINS, Mars2020/MEDA, LISA Others projects: Europlanet, MiniPINS (ESA)
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| Bilbao | ||||
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Atmospheres of planets and exoplanets Missions: Mars Express/VMC, Venus Express/VMC/VIRTIS, JUICE/JANUS/MAJIS, JUNO, Cassini-Huyges, Mars2020/MEDA/SuperCam e Insight Observatories-Instruments: PlanetCam, PlanetCam-NIR Others projects: Europlanet, Aula Espazio Gela
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Meteorites and materials / instruments for space missions Infrastructure: Laboratory Missions: ExoMars/RLS, Mars2020/SuperCam
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| Coimbra | ||||
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Celestial Mechanics This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Solar System Dynamics, Exoplanets, dynamical Systems, Planetary Physics, Tidal effects
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Solar System minor bodies, planetary geology This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Planetary geology of minor bodies of Solar System: Kuiper Belt, TNO, comets, NEOS, etc |
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| Granada | ||||
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Atmósferas Planetarias Terrestres
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Atmospheres of Earth, Mars, Venus, Titan and exoplanets Missions: TGO/NOMAD, TMED/SABER, Envisat/MIPAS Observatories-Instruments: SATI, MIMA Others projects: Europlanet, UPWARDS
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Cuerpos Menores del Sistema Solar This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Asteroids, comets, trans-Neptunian objects, ... Missions: Rosetta/OSIRIS/GIADA, Comet Interceptor Observatories-Instruments: ESBO Others projects: NEOS
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Heliophysics and solar magnetosphere Missions: Solar Orbiter/PHI Observatories-Instruments: EST, SUNRISE/IMaX+
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Plasmas en Atmósferas Planetarias
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Lightning and transient electric discharges in the atmosphere and in the laboratory Infrastructure: Laboratory Missions: ISS/ASIM, ISS/TARANIS Observatories-Instruments: GRASSP, GALIUS, ORISON
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Giant planets, Titan, Mercury, comets Infrastructure: Instrumentation Missions: Bepi/BELA, JUICE/GALA/JANUS, Comet Interceptor/CoCa/MANIAC/EnVisS/OPIC, EnVision/VenSpec
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Mineral dust and aerosols in atmospheres and comets Infrastructure: Laboratory Missions: Comet Interceptor/EnVisS
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Unidad de Desarrollo Instrumental y Tecnológico
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Instrumentation, electronics, mechanics, optics, software, ... Infrastructure: Instrumentation Missions: TGO/NOMAD, Solar Orbiter/PHI Observatories-Instruments: CARMENES, GRASSP, MEGARA, PANIC, Sunrise/IMAX
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Meteoroides, Meteoritos y Cuerpos Menores
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Meteoroids, meteorites, and minor bodies Missions: Lumio Others projects: SMART, MIDAS, P3NEO-I |
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| Lisboa | ||||
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Astrobiology |
Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, organic matter in meteorites, comets and asteroids Infrastucture: Laboratory Missions: Hayabusa.2
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| Madrid | ||||
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Biología Molecular This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Microbiology and Astrobiology Missions: Mars Express
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Thermal and tectonic surface structure of planets and moons Missions: Insight, Envision Others projects: UPWARDS, AMARTE
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Astronomía y Geodesia This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Optimization of orbits of space missions Missions: MetNET-Meiga
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Cálculo Fraccionario y Atmósfera de Marte This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Modeling and simulation of fractional calculation and atmosphere of Mars Missions: MetNET-Meiga, Mars Express/Marsis, ... |
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Arquitectura de Sistemas Distribuidos This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Data computing systems Missions: Mars Express/MARSIS/SPICAM, ExoMars TGO, ExoMars 2022 Others projects: INTIME
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Geofísica Planetaria This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Martian surface, atmosphere and ionosphere Missions: Mars Express/MARSIS/HRSC, ... |
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Characterization of cold stars and exoplanets, spectroscopy Missions: Kepler, K2, TESS, Gaia Observatories-Instruments: CARMENES |
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Meteorite Research, Planetary Geosciences, Astrobiology Missions: ExoMars, Mars2020, MSL
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Joint Center for Ultraviolet Astronomy (JCUVA)
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Ultraviolet study of planets and exoplanets Infrastructure: Instrumentation Missions: WSO-UV Space Telescope
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Área de Geología This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Planetary geology and astrobiology on terrestrial planets
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Instituto Universitario de Microgravedad This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Development of space technology and instrumentation Infrastructure: Instrumentation Missions: ExoMars TGO/NOMAD, Rosetta/OSIRIS; Solar Orbiter/PHI, EPD; ARIEL Observatories-Instruments: SUNRISE/IMAX+ Others projects: UPMSat-2
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Space Instrumentation Infrastructure: Instrumentation Missions: MSL, ExoMars, Insight, Mars2020 Others projects: EuroPlanet, MiniPINS (ESA)
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Geología Planetaria y Atmósferas This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Planetary habitability. Mineralogy, geochemistry and geodynamics Infrastructure: Laboratory Missions: ExoMars/RLS, Mars2020/MEDA, JUICE, MMX/RAX, DART-Hera
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Biomoléculas en Exploración Planetaria This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Detection of molecular biomarkers by bio-affinity Infrastructure: Laboratory Missions: SOLID, IceBreaker, LMC (ExoMars)
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Habitabilidad y Ambientes Extremos This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Habitability and Extreme Environments Infrastructure: Laboratory Missions: ExoMars, MSL, Mars2020 Others projects: Europlanet
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Medio Interestelar y Circunestelar This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Astrochemistry and interstellar, protoplanetary, lunar and cometary ice analogs Infrastructure: Laboratory Missions: JUICE, Rosetta
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Formación y Evolución de Estrellas, Enanas Marrones y Planetas This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Formation and Evolution of Stars, Brown Dwarfs and Planets Observatories-Instruments: CARMENES
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Scientific exploitation of astronomical archives Others projects: SVO
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Biomoléculas en superficies This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Biomolecules on surfaces under planetary simulation conditions Infrastructure: laboratory Others projects: Planetary Simulation Chamber - PASC
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Ingeniería de Sensores Espaciales This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Development of space instrumentation, small satellites and exploration probes Infrastructure: Instrumentation Missions: Mars2020, ExoMars2016, ExoMars2022, MetNet Others projects: MiniPINS (ESA), MarsConnect (INTA)
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Magnetometry, planetary magnetic mineralogy and characterization of magnetic signature Infrastructure: Instrumentation Missions: ExoMars2022/AMR, Bepi Colombo, Meiga-MetNet
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Óptica Espacial This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Instrumentation and research in space optics Infrastructure: Instrumentation Missions: ExoMars2022/Raman, MMX/RAX, Rosetta, Bepi C., ExoMars2016/Dreams, Meiga-MetNet, Ariel, Echo, JWST/MIIRI, SO-PHI
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Área de Investigación e Instrumentación Atmosférica (AIIA) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Physical-chemical investigation of the terrestrial and martian atmosphere Infrastructure: Laboratory Missions: Mars2020/RDS, Exomars 2022/SIS
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Laboratorio de Radiación y Meteorología Espacial This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Space radiation environment and effects. Radiation tests. Space meteorology Infrastructure: Laboratory, Radiation monitors for stratospheric balloons: AIR Others projects: RADNEXT y HEMERA (H2020)
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Instituto de Estructura de la Materia This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Ice lab, infrared spectroscopy, chemistry Infrastructure: Laboratory
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Plasma and magnetosphere Missions: SOHO, Solar Orbiter, Bepi Colombo, Cluster,
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Ice on frozen moons (Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, ...) Missions: JUICE, Cassini-Huygens
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Exploration of Mars, surface and atmosphere Missions: Mars Express, Trace Gas Orbiter, ExoMars
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Mercury surface spectroscopy Missions: Bepi Colombo, Messenger
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Asteroids, comets, and cometary dust Missions: Rosetta, HERA
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| Málaga | ||||
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Martian environment and materials analysis laboratory and instrumentation Infrastructure: Laboratory Missions: Mars2020/SuperCam
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| Oviedo | ||||
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Universidad de Oviedo |
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Astrogeology and planetary analogs Infrastructure: Spectroscopy, remote sensing, mapping and planetary habitability
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| La Palma | ||||
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Near Earth Asteroids Others projects: EuroNear |
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| Porto-Lisboa | ||||
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Toward the detection and charaterization of other Earths
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Exoplanet research and Solar System Planet atmospheres Missions: CHEOPS, PLATO, ARIEL, AKATSUKI (JAXA), CASSINI, VENUS EXPRESS Observatories-Instruments: ESPRESSO@VLT, future NIRPS, SPIROU@CFHT, HIRES@ELT Others projects: SWEET-Cat
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Development of new instrumentation Infrastructure: Laboratory Missions: PLATO, CHEOPS, ARIEL Observatories-Instruments: ESPRESSO@VLT, future NIRPS, HIRES@ELT,
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| Sevilla | ||||
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Ciencia y Tecnología del Plasma y el Espacio This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Atmospheric dynamics of planets od the Solar System Missions/Instruments: AKATSUKI/IR1+IR2+LIR+UVI, VEx/VIRTIS+VMC IRTF/SpeX+iSEHELL+MIRSI |
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| Tenerife | ||||
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Pequeños Cuerpos del Sistema Solar This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Small bodies and objects close to the ground Missions: OSIRIS-REx, Gaia, JWST, Euclid, Hera/Dart, CASTALIA, CASTAway, Hayabusa2 Observatories-Instruments: GTC/OSIRIS/EMIR, NOT/ALFOSC, TNG/NICS, INT/IDS,... Others projects: NEOROCKS, NEO-MAPP, CLASS, PRIMASS,EURONEAR, J-PLUS, J-PASS
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Exoplanets and astrobiology Missions: CoRoT, Kepler, K2, CHEOPS, XO, WFC, PLATO, ARIEL, TESS Observatories-Instruments: CARMENES, GTC / OSIRIS / EMIR / HORUS, WHT / LIRIS, HARPSN, LCOGT, ...
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Space instrumentation and telescopes (optical, electronic, mechanical, SW, ...) Infrastructure: Instrumentation Missions: Marco Polo-R/THERMAP, Solar Orbiter/SOPHI, Euclid-NISP, PLATO, ISS/IRCAM, ... Observatories-Instruments: GTC, GREGOR, WHT, VTT, TIP II, SUNRISE/IMaX Others projects: CTA, NRT, EST, ELT, OPTICON, OGS, TTNN
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| Valencia | ||||
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Ice and solid characterization laboratory Infrastructure: Laboratory
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| Valladolid | ||||
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Espectroscopía Raman e Infrarroja
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Cosmogeochemistry and Astrobiology with Raman and Infrared Spectroscopy Infrastructure: Laboratory Missions: ExoMars/RLS, Mars2020/SuperCam, MMX/RAX Others projects: H2020-Compet “PTAL” (Planetary Terrestrial Analogue Library)
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Giant planets atmospheres Missions: Cassini, HST Observatories-Instruments: PlanetCam
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| Vigo | ||||
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Agrupación Aeroespacial - SpaceLab
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Development of space technology for satellites Infrastructure: Small satellites Missions: Comet Interceptor
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Cultural astronomy, observational astrophysics and databases Missions: Gaia
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Geochemistry of Mars: modeling, mineralogy, laboratory analogs Missions: MSL/CheMin
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| Zaragoza | ||||
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Geodinámica Planetaria This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Geomorphology of Mars and planetary geological mapping
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The Planetary Sciences and Solar System Exploration community is made up of leading professionals in the areas of science, engineering and communication. The common goal is to improve knowledge about the solar system, develop new space exploration missions, and enhance visibility among society for greater relevance and scientific sensitivity.
This interdisciplinary community encompasses not only research on planets, moons, rings, asteroids, comets and other features of our solar system, but also other broader aspects such as astrobiology, the search for new exo-planets or the formation and dynamics of systems. planetariums.
In the technological and engineering area, our community includes several first-rate international instrumentation laboratories and representatives of the Spanish aerospace industry with a presence in practically all the missions of the European (ESA) and American (NASA) space agencies, both in the development of instrumentation and flight components as in the area of ground segment, data processing and operations.
We want to highlight the collaboration of communication professionals and scientific dissemination as main elements of the community to ensure the visibility of planetary sciences in all areas of society, from presence in the media to inclusion in programs education at all levels to improve knowledge of planetary sciences and social and institutional sensitivity.
An important role in this task corresponds to the amateur community, both for their decisive work in the dissemination of planetary sciences through the organization of local events and direct contact with the public, as well as for their capacities for collaboration in Pro-Am projects.
Disclaimer - Request for collaboration - The purpose of this section is to offer a list, as complete as possible, of the groups, collectives and institutions that, from any of the fields listed above, participate in the development of planetary sciences in Spain and Portugal. We warn that the inventory presented below may be incomplete and that to achieve the objective outlined here it is important to have the help of all those who consider it justified to be represented on this website, which is why we request your collaboration by reporting the relevant information to such an end. For this purpose, we provide a form model to be completed so that the information and published content are consistent and homogeneous.
We are Astróbriga, the astronomical group of Ciudad Rodrigo.
We have a dream: to build the first model of the solar system in three dimensions and to scale in Spain. Where? In the region of Ciudad Rodrigo.
We are talking about a solar system so large that Pluto will be on the border with Portugal. We are also talking about a comprehensive project, capable of providing economic alternatives in the area, stimulating the intellectual curiosity of youth and creating new vocations.
A project that will be the pride of the entire region.
- The project consists of establishing a reproduction of the solar system, to scale, in the Ciudad Rodrigo region.
- The model will not be an end in itself, but a tool to carry out activities aimed at promoting the region on a tourist level and developing educational and scientific dissemination activities in the area.
- Not only will it be the first permanent model, in three dimensions and to scale in Spain, but it will also be, without a doubt, one of the most ambitious and complete in the world.
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The Sun - With a diameter of 4.80m and composed of about 2000 brass hands, the Sun will be located in the Rotunda of the Fat Tree, and Pluto will be located about 25 kilometers away. To give you an idea, the diameter of the Sun of most of the scale models of solar systems that you can find in the world rotates between 1 and 2 meters. The planets and their moons (15 in total) will float on monoliths made up of a Corten steel base topped by an armored glass cube. Each element of the system will be accompanied by an informative poster and a signage that will show where the other elements of the model are. The monoliths will be equipped with an internal lighting system that will allow you to visit the system at night. |
A project with a pedagogical vocation
Education is one of the priority elements of the project. In fact, several teachers are actively engaged in the project.Within this framework, educational tools are being developed that educational centers will be able to use, relating astronomy to other disciplines such as physics, mathematics, visual arts, biology, history, etc ... Three educational centers in the region are officially supporting the project: the IES Fray Diego Tadeo, CEIP Miróbriga, and IESO Las Batuecas (La Alberca). Also, the Association of Tourist Guides of Ciudad Rodrigo will propose specific visits for educational centers.
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Support from the scientific community
Astróbriga has the valuable support of Javier Rodriguez-Pacheco Martín (Universidad de Alcalá), Antonia Varela, (researcher at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias and director of the Starlight Foundation), Sebastián Sánchez Prieto (Universidad de Alcalá), Fernando Buitrago (Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço de Lisboa), as well Laura Delgado Martín, Diego Corrochano Fernández, Pablo Herrero Teijón, Santiago Andrés Sánchez y Camilo Ruiz Méndez, all members of the Departamento de Didáctica de la Matemática y de las Ciencias Experimentales de la Universidad de Salamanca, they have also expressed their willingness to do outreach work within the framework of the project.
Support from other institutions
We also have the support of the Museo de Ciencias de Valladolid, la Federación Asociaciones Astronómicas de España, la Revista Astronomía, la Fundación Starlight, as well the Asociación para la Enseñanza de la Astronomía, la Organización Salmantina de Astronáutica y del Espacio or the Asociación Estudiantil de Astronomía Supernova. In addition to the Heritage Commission of the Province of Salamanca, the Ayuntamiento de Ciudad Rodrigo, FECYT, GMV and a variety of local and private companies and businesses that you can join.
The Spanish & Portugal Regional Hub is a node of the Europlanet Society. The Europlanet Society Regional Hubs support the development of planetary science at a national and regional level. Europlanet 2024 RI has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 871149