What is the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands?
Formed in 1979, it is a consortium of European governments under the authority of Spain, and is the leading professional observatory in Europe. There is astronomical equipment belonging to over 60 academic and government institutions from 19 countries on two mountain peaks in the Canary Islands, including one of the largest telescopes in the world, the 10.4 meter Gran Telescopio Canarias.
