The city of Granada has become, through its own merits, the world epicenter of astronomy this week by hosting the third edition of the HoRS3S international conference. This event, which has attracted nearly 200 researchers Arriving from corners as diverse as Asia, America, Australia and, of course, all of Europe, it puts on the table the latest findings on the planets that orbit distant stars.
The headquarters for these conferences is none other than the Higher Technical School of Architecture of the University of Granada, a luxurious setting for a meeting meticulously organized by the Institute of Astrophysics of AndalucÃa (IAA-CSIC)For five intense days, attendees will exchange data and theories to try to unravel the mysteries of those worlds that, who knows, could harbor the necessary conditions for life as we know it.
New technological frontiers: the ELT and the James Webb
One of the highlights of the congress is undoubtedly the analysis of the tools that are revolutionizing the way we observe the cosmos. Scientists are making the most of the capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)which is already providing unprecedented data, while they look askance at the future Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which will become the most powerful optical and infrared eye on the planet.
It's not all about aiming for the target; processing vast amounts of information is also quite complex. Therefore, the congress dedicates a significant portion of its time to debating the big data analysis and the new stellar characterization techniques, fundamental to better understanding the host stars that shelter these elusive exoplanets.
Granada takes over from Berlin and looks towards 2031
The choice of the Andalusian city as the venue is no coincidence, as Granada has proudly embraced the witness of the city of Berlinwhere the previous edition was held. This move consolidates the town as a European benchmark for innovation, coinciding with a very special time as the University of Granada celebrates its fifth centenary, demonstrating that experience is not incompatible with being at the forefront of science.
At the official opening, the institutions made it clear that this congress is a huge boost for the city to become European Capital of Culture in 2031Figures such as Olga Muñoz, director of the IAA-CSIC, or the researcher Rafael Luque —recently awarded the Princess of Girona Research Prize—, have agreed that science is a fundamental pillar of contemporary culture and that Granada is the ideal place where both worlds meet.
The exchange of ideas and the creation of collaborative networks among international research groups ensure that the knowledge generated in these rooms will have a real impact on upcoming space missions. With an eye toward the new observation tools And judging by the enthusiasm of the experts who have visited the city, it is clear that the search for new worlds continues full steam ahead, leaving Granada's flag very high on the international scientific scene.