The Spanish Astronomical Society will meet in Tarragona from 13 to 17 July

The Spanish Astronomical Society (SEA) will hold its XVII Scientific Meeting from 13 to 17 July at the Palau Firal i de Congressos de Tarragona, in collaboration with astronomy research institutions in Catalonia —the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) , the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC), the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB), and the Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) — as well as Catalan universities (Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and Universitat Rovira i Virgili).

The meeting, which takes place every two years, will bring together more than 500 astronomy professionals, nearly a third of whom are predoctoral researchers. This edition will also feature representation from the African Astronomical Society, which is the guest astronomical society for this year’s event.

The XVII Scientific Meeting of the SEA will be a benchmark forum for debating the main scientific and technological advances in recent astronomy and the prominent Spanish participation in them.

The range of topics is wide and varied, including, among others, the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the discovery of gravitational waves, a milestone that opened a new window for the exploration of the universe. The scientific results of the ESA’s Gaia and Euclid missions will also be presented—results that are marking a turning point in our understanding of our galaxy, the nature of dark matter, gravity, and the accelerated expansion of the universe. It will showcase how recent data obtained by the JWST observatory are forcing the scientific community to revise previous ideas on how the first galaxies formed and evolved. Plenary sessions and the overall conference will also highlight work demonstrating the great progress of very-high-energy gamma-ray astrophysics, as well as how artificial intelligence and advanced language models are driving a revolution in astrophysics.

Furthermore, Spanish astronomy is in luck this session, as ARRAKIHS, the first mission of the ESA Scientific Programme led from Spain, was approved last June. With a launch planned for 2030, it will also play a prominent role in this edition.

The XVII Scientific Meeting of the SEA includes a significant number of thematic symposia and special meetings on specific areas of study, tools, or research instruments.

For instance, there will be sessions debating, step by step and thanks to observations such as those obtained by ALMA, star formation—a process less uniform than previously thought—and the results of major ongoing spectroscopic surveys. Discussions will also cover the path towards the first light of the ELT (Extremely Large Telescope), focusing on the scientific opportunities and technological contributions that Spain has provided to this telescope, which is set to see its first light at the end of this decade. There will be dedicated special sessions on the main scientific results obtained with the Yebes 40-metre radiotelescope, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, alongside presentations and discussions on the impact of the growing constellation of satellites in orbit and their effect on astronomical observation.

The XVII Scientific Meeting of the SEA will also address other relevant topics currently being addressed: the important work of the astronomical community regarding the trio of solar eclipses that Spain will experience in the coming years; the creation of new educational resources to bring astronomy closer to schools and high schools; highlighting the historical and current relationship between astronomy and culture; and new proposals to strengthen and enhance the scientific value of collaboration between professional and amateur astronomers in Spain. As in previous editions, a dynamic study on the impact of astronomical research itself on sustainability will be considered.

During the course of this meeting, the 7th Report on Human Resources in Astronomy and Astrophysics will also be presented, analysing the situation of astronomy professionals in the country, with a particular focus on young researchers and gender inequalities, among other aspects.

As part of its commitment to work-life balance and the promotion of more inclusive scientific environments, the SEA will offer a childcare service for the first time for attendees who require it. This initiative aims to facilitate the participation of researchers with family responsibilities, contributing to greater accessibility and diversity within the astronomical community.

The trio of solar eclipses will take centre stage in many of the outreach activities open to the public free of charge, which will be organised in parallel with the scientific meeting. These initiatives add to the extensive agenda of activities organised by Tarragona City Council. Within this context, the astronomers participating in the meeting join this schedule, making their specialised knowledge available to the general public.

Citizens will be able to participate in a session dedicated to the Sun and solar physics, combining lectures by specialists with live observation through telescopes. Another talk will cover the scientific keys to the total eclipse of 12 August 2026, as well as recommendations for safe viewing. The scheduled talks will also address the stellar origin of the chemical elements essential for life and their connection to the evolution of the Universe, as well as an exploration of how astronomy influenced the urban planning of ancient Tarraco.

The programme will be completed with a presentation of children’s and youth outreach books on eclipses, stellar distances, the Milky Way, and the figure of the astronomer Assumpció Català, aiming to foster scientific vocations from an early age. This set of proposals is designed to bring astronomy closer to all audiences and prepare us for the great event on 12 August 2026, which will position Tarragona as a key location to experience the total solar eclipse.