The Spanish Astronomical Society will hold its XVII Scientific Meeting from 13 to 17 July at the Tarragona Trade Fair and Conference Centre, in collaboration with astronomy research institutions in Catalonia (IEEC, ICE-CSIC, IFAE, ICCUB) and Catalan universities (UB, UAB, UPC, URV).
The meeting, held every two years, will bring together more than 500 astronomy professionals, nearly one third of whom are predoctoral researchers. This edition will also include representation from the African Astronomical Society, which is the guest astronomical society in this edition.
Comprehensive scientific programme
The XVII Scientific Meeting of the SEA will serve as a key forum to discuss the main recent scientific and technological advances in astronomy and Spain’s prominent participation in them.
The range of topics is broad and varied and includes, among others, the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the discovery of gravitational waves, a milestone that opened a new window for exploring the universe. Scientific results from the ESA’s Gaia and Euclid missions will also be presented—results that are transforming our understanding of our galaxy, the nature of dark matter, gravity and the accelerated expansion of the universe. It will also be shown how recent data obtained by the JWST observatory are forcing the scientific community to revise previous ideas about how the first galaxies formed and evolved. In addition, plenary sessions and the rest of the congress will include work demonstrating major advances in 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 has particularly good news this year, as ARRAKIHS, the first mission of the ESA Scientific Programme led by Spain, was approved last June and, with a launch planned for 2030, will also play a prominent role in this edition.
Thematic symposia and special meetings
The XVII Scientific Meeting of the SEA includes numerous thematic symposia and special meetings focused on specific research topics, tools or instruments.
For example, there will be sessions discussing, step by step and thanks to observations such as those obtained by ALMA, about star formation, a process less uniform than previously thought, as well as the results of ongoing large spectroscopic surveys. There will also be discussion about the path toward first light of the ELT (Extremely Large Telescope), including scientific opportunities and technological contributions made by Spain to this telescope, which is expected to see first light by the end of this decade. Special sessions will also be devoted to key scientific results obtained with the 40-metre Yebes radio telescope, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, as well as presentations and discussions on the impact of the growing constellation of satellites in orbit and its effects on astronomical observation.
Beyond astronomical research
The XVII Scientific Meeting of the SEA will also address other relevant topics: the major work of the astronomical community around 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; highlighting the historical and current relationship between astronomy and culture; and new proposals to strengthen the scientific value of collaboration between professional and amateur astronomers in Spain. As in previous editions, the dynamic study of the impact of astronomical research on sustainability will also be addressed.
During the meeting, the 7th Report on Human Resources in Astronomy and Astrophysics will also be presented, analysing the situation of astronomy professionals in Spain, with particular attention to early-career researchers and gender inequalities, among other aspects.
As part of its commitment to work–life balance and promoting more inclusive scientific environments, the SEA will offer for the first time a childcare service for attendees who require it. This initiative aims to facilitate participation in the congress for researchers with family responsibilities, contributing to greater accessibility and diversity within the astronomical community.
The SEA Scientific Meeting reaches out to Tarragona
The trio of solar eclipses will be central to many of the outreach activities open to the general public organised alongside the scientific meeting. These initiatives complement the extensive programme organised by Tarragona City Council. In this context, participating astronomers will join this programme and share their specialised knowledge with the public.
The public will be able to take part in a session dedicated to the Sun and solar physics combining expert lectures with live telescope observations. Another talk will explain the scientific keys to the total solar eclipse of 12 August 2026, along with recommendations for safe observation. The scheduled talks will also address the stellar origin of chemical elements essential for life and their connection to the evolution of the Universe, as well as how astronomy influenced urban planning in ancient Tarraco.
The programme will be completed with a presentation of children’s and young adult science books about eclipses, stellar distances, the Milky Way and the astronomer Assumpció Català, with the aim of fostering scientific interest from an early age. This set of initiatives is designed to bring astronomy closer to all audiences and prepare for the major event of 12 August 2026, which will position Tarragona as a key location to experience the total solar eclipse.
