The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory holds a new meeting with its neighbours in Garafía

Neighbours of Garafía together with the staff of the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory during the Open House Days
Residents of Garafía together with ORM staff and authorities from Garafía Town Council during the Observatory's Open Days. Credit: Verónica Martín (IAC)
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Today, Friday 16th August, the traditional Open Day of the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM) was held for the residents of the village of Garafía, in La Palma. With this event, the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) participates in the programme of the Fiestas Patronales of the municipality where the Observatory is located. This fraternisation event, between the town and the scientific, technical and working staff who work at the centre's facilities, has been taking place since the first years of its opening and celebrates its 39th edition.

The IAC and the scientific institutions installed at the Observatory, in collaboration with the Town Council of Villa de Garafía and its Department of Culture, Heritage and Festivities, organised this meeting, which was attended by the Mayor of Villa de Garafía, José Ángel Sánchez; the director of the IAC, Valentín Martínez Pillet; the Senator for the island of La Palma, Kilian Sánchez San Juan; the councillor for Social Services, Tourism, Culture and Environment of the Villa de Garafía, Daina del Arco Iris Sgobino, and the current administrator of the ORM, Emilio García.

Throughout the morning, several groups of local residents visited the ORM, which is part of Spain's network of Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS) and is considered to be one of the best observatories in the world for astrophysical research.

The inhabitants of the municipality were able to get to know the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC or Grantecan), the MAGIC telescopes, the LST-1 prototype that will form part of the CTAO Observatory, the William Herschel Telescope (WHT) of the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes, and the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG). In all cases, the staff of these telescopes participated with scientific explanations.

The Cabildo Insular de La Palma also joined the day by opening the doors of the Roque de los Muchachos Visitor Centre, which is managed by SODEPAL with the collaboration of the IAC.

To conclude, a collective meal was held outside the Observatory Residence, with the participation of the residents of Garafía as well as the telescope staff and collaborators involved in the organisation and security of the day.

Representatives of the IAC and the Garafía Town Council in front of the MAGIC and LST-1 telescopes of the ORM during the Observatory's Open Days. Credit: Verónica Martín (IAC)
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Over a hundred local inhabitants of Garafía attended the Open Day at he Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory
The traditional Open Day at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory was held on Friday August 19th. After a gap during the past two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and the scientific institutions which participate in the observatory, together with the Town Council of Garafía and its area of Culture have renewed the celebration of this community event. The aims of this open day, for the benefit of the population of the municipality of Garafía, are to explain the scientific activity carried out at the telescopes, and also to encourage
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Poster with the activities programmed by the IAC in the patron saint festivities in honour of Our Lady the Virgin of Light in the town of Garafía (La Palma).
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A week of astronomical activities in the municipality of Garafía
August arrived again, and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) is participating in the festival to honour our Lady the Virgin of Light in the town of Garafía (La Palma), the municipality which is the home of the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM). An outreach lectura, the exhibition “100 Square Moons” and the traditional open day are some of the organized activities.
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Observatorios de Canarias
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