We propose to observe the newly-discovered transiting planet TrES-1 during the time of secondary eclipse (when the planet passes behind the star). A successful measurement of this eclipse would constitute the first direct detection of emission from an extrasolar planet. The secondary eclipse will reveal two key quantities of the planet: its

Comet C/2000 WM1 (LINEAR) was observed at ESO at the time of its closest approach to the Earth at the beginning of December 2001 (geocentric distance: 0.32 AU). The aim of the observations was characterization of the solid component of the coma. Observations have been acquired over a wide spectral range, from the visible to the thermal infrared

The detection of spatially extended line emission in multiply imaged QSOs offers a new possibility to study the properties (kinematics and structure) of the ionized gas in the host galaxies of high-redshift QSOs. We have studied the arc of extended emission detected in Q2237+0305, finding that it arises from the core of the C III] λ1909 emission

This paper shows the different design concepts and techniques employed in the structural and thermal analysis of EMIR (Espectrografo Multiobjeto Infrarrojo), nowadays under development at the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias.

EMIR is a multiobject intermediate resolution near infrared (1.0 - 2.5 microns) spectrograph with imaging capabilities, to be mounted on the Gran Telescopio Canarias. After the successful results of the preliminary design review, EMIR optical system is being fixed. Detailed status of the solutions adopted for the optical system as well as the

ELMER is an instrument for the GTC designed to observe between 365 and 1000 nm. The observing modes for the instrument at Day One shall be: Imaging, Long Slit and Mask-Multi-object Spectroscopy, Slit-less multi-object spectroscopy, Fast Photometry and Fast short-slit spectroscopy, over a FOV of 4.2 arcmin diameter. Spectral resolutions of 250, 1000