The SCITECHSS Group is a research and development team of scientists and engineers based at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía–CSIC (Granada-Spain). It devotes its efforts to develop instruments for the exploration of our Solar System with the aim of obtaining scientific data. The analysis and interpretation of these data allow us to advance in the understanding of the nature of the planets, their satellites, and the small bodies.
Latest news
-
The atmosphere of this planet is hotter than the surface of the Sun!
—
Our team participated in the analysis of an ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-178b, led by Dr. Luca Fossati from Graz (Austria), and collaborators. This is the third study by the research team on similar hot planets, where direct models accounting for Non-Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (NLTE) are used to constrain the planet’s atmospheric temperature, abundances, and mass loss…
-
The instrument GALA will map the surface and study the interior of the Icy Galilean satellites
—
The Ganymede Laser Altimeter, or GALA, is one of the key scientific instruments aboard the European Space Agency’s (ESA) JUICE mission, which was launched successfully on April 14, 2023, from French Guiana. JUICE, or the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, is designed to study some of Jupiter’s fascinating icy moons, including Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto. GALA’s…
-
JANUS: more than a camera flying to Jupiter, a success of an international Team work
—
JANUS was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) in February 2013 through an international open call for the JUICE scientific payload. The instrument was developed by a collaborative international team led by an Italian Principal Investigator, alongside contributions from institutions in Germany, Spain (IAA-CSIC), and the UK, including prominent research entities across Europe, Israel,…