Councilor Fernández visits the renovation works of the Ull del Montsec planetarium

● The projection system will be completely renovated, the seating area will be expanded and renovated, as well as the lighting, audio and IT systems

● This is the only planetarium in the world that allows you to open its dome and leave the visitor under the real sky

● Montsec Astronomical Park received more than 31,000 visitors during 2022, figures that represent post-pandemic consolidation

Councilor Fernández and the mayoress of Àger during the presentation.

The Minister of Territory, Juli Fernàndez i Olivares, visited the Montsec Astronomical Park this morning on the occasion of the start, today, of the total renovation works of the Ull del Montsec planetarium. The works mainly consist of the installation of a new active 3D projection system, the remodeling of the seating area, the 26% increase in its capacity and improvements to the audio and lighting systems. The Astronomical Planetarium, with a dome of 12 meters in diameter, is the only one in Spain that has 3D projection and the only one in the world that allows you to open its dome and leave the visitor under the real sky .

Fernàndez highlighted the Astronomical Park, managed by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), as a “dynamizing and leadership facility for this territory where it is located, Àger, and for this environment, Montsec”. And as “the country’s point of reference in the field of scientific dissemination and research”. “With the Government’s investment in this space, just when we are celebrating the Year of Oró, in commemoration of the centenary of the Lleida biochemist’s birth, it will help further promote this unique and world-leading space in astronomy,” he emphasized. The visit was accompanied by the director of FGC Turisme, Toni Sanmartí i Rovira, the director of the Park, Salvador Ribas i Rubio, and the mayoress of Àger, Mireia Burgués i Novau, among other authorities.

The current system of the planetarium was installed with the commissioning of the center in the period between 2005 and 2008 and later, in 2015, a partial conversion was done, converting the projection system to 3D. The new audiovisual projection system will allow the planetarium to be operated with active 3D, based on a system of 5 perimeter projectors, so that the central space can be won. The seating area will be remodeled, including the pavement and covering, and the capacity will be increased, from 68 to 86 seats, with new seats that will have interactive systems.

The computer system will also be completely updated, which will be located in the technical room located on the lower floor, the audio system and the lighting system will be completely renewed, which will be 100% computer controllable. The reform will also include the updating of the control systems of the various devices and peripherals that exist or that are incorporated in this project to the planetarium (control of the dome, lights, sound and the correct operation of the control system of active 3D display, glasses and accessories).

The amount of the action is 625,000 euros and the planned period of execution, four months.

Another of the novelties presented today is that in the coming days the Astronomical Park will have chargers for electric vehicles, recently installed and which will soon begin to provide service. In total, there are six chargers: two fast chargers and four semi-fast chargers.

31,000 visitors in 2022

The Montsec Astronomical Park, considered the most important astronomy facility in Catalonia and a benchmark in the teaching and dissemination of astronomy and space sciences, has closed the 2022 season with very positive figures: 31,234 people have enjoyed the observation of the universe at the Noguera facility and the wide range of activities and proposals that have been carried out there from February 19, 2022 to January 9, 2023. These results mean an increase of 28% compared to 2021 and a return to normality when again exceeding 30,000 visits.

L’Astronomico has offered, throughout the season, both day and night visits for the general public and families and has doubled school visits compared to 2021, receiving up to 4,394 students from 90 schools.

The facility recorded the best Easter in its history, with 2,422 visitors, and the last quarter of the year, with 7,732, equaled the results of the same period in 2019 and 2021, the best to date. Night visits have welcomed more than 21,700 people, regaining predominance in a season without time restrictions.

Success of the two major events of the season

As for the two events hosted by the Astronomical every year, the twelfth edition of the ‘Music Under the Stars’ festival once again sold out all the tickets. A total of 607 people enjoyed one of the concerts scheduled, from July to December, at the Ull del Montsec. And the Astronomy Festival of Montsec, the annual meeting with the astro