INAF is working on the construction of large research infrastructures like the SRT (Sardinia Radio Telescope), with ASI, and the LBT (Large Binocular Telescope) in Arizona, with the Americans and Germans. It maintains, and makes available to the community, the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo in the Canaries, has completed the construction of the VST (VLT Survey Telescope) that has started to operate at the ESO observatory in the Chilean Andes, and contributes to the upgrade of scientific instrumentation at the Very Large Telescope. INAF also contributes to ESA's Cosmic Vision with participation in all the projects currently selected. INAF is also busy in programs that will define the future of astronomy and astrophysics: E-ELT, a gigantic 42 metre telescope, SKA (Square Kilometre Array), a system of over 1,500 radio antennas that together will make the largest radio telescope ever constructed, and for which the government has proposed Rome as the project headquarters. The agreement for the construction and installation of HARPS on the Galileo telescope is currently being drafted. HARPS is the most powerful "hunter" of extra-solar planets, and currently operates only in the southern hemisphere. Italy would then have an extremely precious instrument in the search for Earth-like planets in the northern hemisphere. The search for such planets in the habitable zone of their stars is among the most promising and exciting fields of research for the near future.

Very little magnetism in this odd couple

Nov 27, 2014

The new observations of IGR J17544-2619 obtained by the NASA satellite NuSTAR have shed light onto some of the most obscure properties and behaviours of SFXTs. The unprecedented accuracy of these measurements has allowed the team led by Varun Bhalerao at the Inter University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (India), with the participation of INAF researchers Patrizia Romano and Lorenzo Natalucci, to see a cyclotron line in the X-ray spectrum of this source, the unambiguous signature of the interaction between the stellar matter and the magnetic field of the compact object that is attracting it.

4th "Paolo Farinella" Prize 2014

Apr 03, 2014

To honor the memory and the outstanding figure of Paolo Farinella (1953–2000), an extraordinary scientist and person, a prize has been established in recognition of significant contributions given in the fields of interest of Paolo, which span from planetary sciences to space geodesy, fundamental physics, science popularization, security in space, weapons control and disarmament.

First COSPAR Symposium - Abstract submission deadline extended

Jun 07, 2013

The First COSPAR Symposium will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, 11-15 November 2013. Abstract deadline has been extended to 30 June 2013.