Professor Francisco Sanchez Martinez, Founder of the IAC, Passes Away
Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) joins the astronomical community in mourning the passing of Professor Francisco Sánchez Martínez, founder and first director of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC). Professor Sánchez's vision and determination were instrumental in creating one of Europe's foremost research centers and establishing two world-class observatories: the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, home to the TNG, and the Teide Observatory on Tenerife.
Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Sánchez received numerous recognitions for his outstanding contributions to astrophysics and international scientific cooperation, including the title of Commendatore of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. His efforts laid the foundation for the strong collaboration between Italian and Spanish research institutions, exemplified by the presence of the TNG at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory and of the ASTRI telescopes at the Teide Observatory.
He passed away on 21 October 2025 in Madrid at the age of 89. The TNG team expresses its deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and friends, and honors his invaluable contribution to the development of modern astrophysics in the Canary Islands.
"Fallece Francisco Sánchez, director fundador del Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias", IAC press release, 21 October 2025
