English (UK)
The Calar Alto Observatory, the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), and the University of Almería are organizing an international conference about robotic telescopes in Retamar-El Toyo (Almería). Many astronomical observations are already being performed with this kind of autonomous instruments, which will become even more common in the future.
An international meeting about robotic telescopes, gathering more than 100 participants from 26 countries giving 55 talks, is being held this week (October 6-10, 2025) at the Barceló Cabo de Gata Hotel in Retamar-El Toyo (close to Almería city). This is the eighth meeting of its kind since 2009, entirely dedicated to autonomous telescopes. Such devices allow observations to be made in various areas of astrophysics, with hardly any human intervention.
Robotic astronomy is the implementation of computing for observatories in such a way that telescopes can make observations of the sky on their own, without the need for an astronomer behind them. The eighth meeting aims to consolidate itself as an international forum to share the latest ideas and advances in the field, with a special emphasis on the scientific and technical results over the last two years.
Alberto J. Castro-Tirado, a research professor at the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC) and president of the scientific organizing committee of the conference, emphasizes that “many fields of astrophysics benefit from these types of developments, which make possible to install telescopes in remote locations such as Antarctica. It is a way to optimize observations and allow astronomers to have a more normal life.”
Castro-Tirado is responsible for the BOOTES robotic telescope network, which hosts two observatories in Andalusia and five outside the country (New Zealand, China, Mexico, South Africa, and Chile), which makes Spain the first country, back in 2022, to deploy a global network on all continents.
BOOTES allows, for example, the immediate study of gamma-ray bursts and gravitational waves produced during the merger of a pair of black holes or neutron stars in remote galaxies. The instruments are in constant communication with space satellites, which first identify the phenomenon to be observed. When the robotic telescopes receive the information, they point directly at it to perform its follow-up.
Sixteen years after the inaugural workshop in Malaga, robotic and autonomous astronomical observatories have made remarkable progress. The global number of automated facilities has grown substantially, along with their capabilities for robotization, autonomy, and interconnection. The advances achieved thanks to them have profoundly influenced various areas of astrophysics and beyond.
These include, among others: the detection of fireballs; studies of minor planets; the search for exoplanets; the monitoring of variable stars in the Galaxy; the study of active galactic nuclei; the detection and monitoring of supernovae; and the rapid tracking of high-energy transients such as gamma-ray bursts and electromagnetic counterparts of neutrinos and gravitational waves.
This eighth meeting also highlights the growing importance of: space debris surveillance and tracking; observation of near-Earth objects; the role of robotic observatories in public outreach and education; and their contributions to open science.
Between two talk sessions, on October 8th, 2025, participants enjoyed a visit to the Calar Alto Observatory, the largest astronomical complex in continental Europe. Jesús Aceituno, director of CAHA and member of the scientific committee of the 8th meeting, emphasizes that “Calar Alto is an ideal site for installing prototypes of robotic telescopes: we have excellent skies, plenty of space, and all the necessary infrastructure (electricity and internet) to complement our large telescopes and instruments with new autonomous devices.”
Calar Alto Observatory is one of the infrastructures that belong to the national map of Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (Spanish acronym: ICTS), approved on March 11th, 2022, by the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Council (CPCTI)
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