Abstract
We explore the possibilities of improving our knowledge of the physics of the short transition phase that precedes the formation of a planetary nebula (hereafter PN) with CanariCam as one of the first-light science instruments available on the GTC. Both the mid-infrared imaging and spectroscopic capabilities of CanariCam are shown to be extremely powerful and suited to studying the hidden evolution of AGB stars on their way to becoming PNe.
