IAC Open Days at Teide Observatory 21-22 June

[Janet]

The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) has announced two Open Days on Friday and Saturday, 21 and 22 June. Between 10am and 3pm, visitors will be able to have a guided tour and be told about the work done by the Observatory, as well as to ask whatever questions they like, whether about the solar system, nearest stars, galaxies, nebulae, or the age or origins of the universe.

The Open Days will be held in the Observatory itself, at Izaña. Groups will be taken at intervals to see the telescopes. Parking is available in the precinct's own carpark. IAC recommends that since it is a high mountain area, visitors bring comfortable shoes, eye shades or sunglasses, as well as a coat. Those with any cardio-vascular or respiratory problems are advised that the altitude might present them with a problem and they are advised to check first with their doctor.  I went to one of these a few years ago, and I'd highly recommend it. JA

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Just back from the day at the observatory.  It was a great day with lots of willing astrophysicists to listen and talk to.  They had set up three telescopes in one area which we could look through one by one and watch sunspots and solar flares.  The tour is not really guided as you can go to whichever telescope you like in whatever order you like.  Lectures are on the hour and half past, adjusted for the Canarian location, meaning they start any time.  If you are lucky you can end up in a small group of 2 or 5 and ask questions to your heart's content.  We can highly recommend going.

We arrived at 10.05 so went with the first group through, which probably had 40 people.  After the first telescope we could wander off in any direction.  We saw a lot of the same people all day, and figure they did not get more than 100 which was a shame as they were really geared up for it, though it worked well for us.  I do hope they get a lot tomorrow. 

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Here's a picture of the Ritchey-Chretien telescope at THEMIS, the French telescope.  We got to go up in the dome even though there was an observation of Mercury underway; we were under instruction to be careful!  The French astrophysicists could not have been nicer and more accommodating and I learned a lot. 

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[poker]

Going today with Alexander (8 years and qwite interested ) .

[poker]

And they wont have mutch peaple today also !!!!!!!

Already back bl....dy rally all routes closed to teide or we had to go via the North or Chio but we were already half way up Teide and come acros a blocked route from Guardia cevil .

HERE

Can`t they put notices further down ?
For us the only thing was back to home with a dissilusioned kid .

Well maybe next time ...........

[Janet]

absolutely blood shower ....  ...  this is for the Cabildo and/or Guardia Civil to advertise! Not a whisper ... and believe me I monitor feeds from both. 

[Nova]

Flaming hell, couldn't organise a thingy in a whatsit 

[Janet]

Just checked the Cabildo site for roads .... the one-point-official-check for all road information. NADA.

 

[poker]

I thought to drive to Chio and up but we were already half way up near El Fronton when they had a blockade with the Guardia . 
Only roads free was via north or Chio and we had to ho back down to highway drive to there , but then come back also in afternoon via Chio .
So for us to much to drive . 
If I would have known I could of driven immediately via Chio in the morning ...........

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

That is simply awful Poker.  Really disappointed alongside Alexander. 

Maybe you guys want to have a look at the Bradford Robotic Telescope website.  It's from the University of Bradford, and is aimed at schoolchildren, to try and enhance their science learning and give them a taste of what it is like to be a scientist.  Kids and the general public can request that the telescope takes pictures of whatever they like.  They are at:  http://www.telescope.org/.

Alexander can look at their webcams from around the observatory as well as the image gallery of pictures they have taken.  Then he'll be more prepared for the next time. 

Commiserations.