66
• Astronomical refraction
• Aberration
• Transformations through translation
• Precession and nutation
• Proper motion
• Reduction of position
• Time and its measurement
• Optics and astronomical instruments
• Auxiliary instruments
• The theodolite or universal instrument
• Precision instruments (only astrometric) for positional determination
• The determination of position at sea
• The equatorial telescope
• Astronomical photography
• Geographical charts
There were only three fourth-year student for the academic year 1978–1979.
The following year eight students enrolled for the fourth year and five more
for the fifth year. The numbers are quite high nowadays and the students
come from all over the world. The teaching of astrophysics at the University
of La Laguna is greatly esteemed and has received a number of commendations. Its attraction, quite naturally, has much to do with the IAC and its
famous observatories. It must also be mentioned that the previously mentioned shortage in university teaching staff has long been filled by IAC
researchers.
The first chair in astrophysics was established at the University of La Laguna
at the beginning of the sixties, a decade before similar chairs were established
at universities in Barcelona and Madrid—yet another example of what an
uphill struggle it was to introduce astrophysics into the Spanish university system.
No sooner than it was created, this first chair in astrophysics was immediately revoked, owing to the power of a respected professor of astronomy at the
Complutense University, who was well ensconced in the regime and happened to be the Director of the Teide Observatory at the time. This sorry tale
will be told in Chap. 10. It cost heaven and earth to get this decision overturned so that I could present my oposición (examination) for the chair. The
oposición was one martyrdom more, with behind-the-scenes manoeuvring and
pressure exerted on the tribunal. That is how things were done in those distant days.
F. Sánchez
• Astronomical refraction
• Aberration
• Transformations through translation
• Precession and nutation
• Proper motion
• Reduction of position
• Time and its measurement
• Optics and astronomical instruments
• Auxiliary instruments
• The theodolite or universal instrument
• Precision instruments (only astrometric) for positional determination
• The determination of position at sea
• The equatorial telescope
• Astronomical photography
• Geographical charts
There were only three fourth-year student for the academic year 1978–1979.
The following year eight students enrolled for the fourth year and five more
for the fifth year. The numbers are quite high nowadays and the students
come from all over the world. The teaching of astrophysics at the University
of La Laguna is greatly esteemed and has received a number of commendations. Its attraction, quite naturally, has much to do with the IAC and its
famous observatories. It must also be mentioned that the previously mentioned shortage in university teaching staff has long been filled by IAC
researchers.
The first chair in astrophysics was established at the University of La Laguna
at the beginning of the sixties, a decade before similar chairs were established
at universities in Barcelona and Madrid—yet another example of what an
uphill struggle it was to introduce astrophysics into the Spanish university system.
No sooner than it was created, this first chair in astrophysics was immediately revoked, owing to the power of a respected professor of astronomy at the
Complutense University, who was well ensconced in the regime and happened to be the Director of the Teide Observatory at the time. This sorry tale
will be told in Chap. 10. It cost heaven and earth to get this decision overturned so that I could present my oposición (examination) for the chair. The
oposición was one martyrdom more, with behind-the-scenes manoeuvring and
pressure exerted on the tribunal. That is how things were done in those distant days.
F. Sánchez