Astronomy at the Fabra Observatory
From October to May, the scientific facility hosts informative visits that include star observation from its telescope.
The historic Fabra Observatory, located on the coastal slope of the Collserola mountain range, will once again be open to visitors from 23 October to 29 May. As is customary, the guided tours are aimed at everyone and take place on the weekends in the evening. On Fridays, we can enjoy a visit that lasts one and a half hours and, on Saturdays, a longer version of two and a half hours.
In this new season, six stars can be observed. Two of them are nearby but fascinating objects: the Moon, our satellite, and Mars, the red planet. The other four heavenly bodies that can be seen take us beyond the limits of our solar system: Alcyone, the most outstaning star in the beautiful Pleiades cluster in the constellation of Taurus; the Orion nebula, one of the brightest nebulae below the belt of the mythological giant that gives its name to the constellation; Albireo, a double star in the constellation Cygnus; and 24 Coma, a three-star star system in the northern constellation of Coma Berenices.
These stars can be seen through the large refracting telescope, which is more than a century old, provided that the clouds do not make it impossible. In addition, the sessions include an introductory conference and a guided tour of several areas of this scientific facility: a Modernist building inaugurated in 1904 that is currently the fourth oldest observatory in the world still in operation. A visit to learn a part of the history of science in Barcelona and which allows you to enjoy spectacular views of the city from outside the dome that houses the telescope.
In the programme you will find a detailed calendar of observations. More information at this link.