Meet The Astronomer

Who are We

The Montsec Astronomical Park is located in the municipality of Àger, in the region of La Noguera, in an extraordinary location considered the best place for observing the sky in Catalonia. The low precipitation in the form of rain, the little light pollution and the height, make the Serra del Montsec the ideal place for the installation of a center of world reference in matters of astronomy.

The park brings science closer to the public to make known the greatness of a night sky with extraordinary characteristics that allows us to discover the secrets of the universe. For this reason, it is considered the most important astronomy facility in Catalonia, which also becomes a point of reference in the teaching and dissemination of the sciences of space and the universe.

The Montsec Astronomical Park offers numerous activities in the middle of nature for all audiences, both day and night, aimed at universities, schools but also at a basic informative level for families, fans, etc.

Facilities and Equipment

The Montsec Astronomical Park consists of three main structures:

Central Building

The Central Building of The Montsec Astronomical Park hosts the interactive permanent exhibition dedicated to astronomy and space sciences. The exhibition is divided into three spaces. It begins with the reception area dedicated to the Astronomical Park and the role of astronomy in society. The second space is the Sala de l’Univers, a journey from the origin of the universe to the most recent discoveries. Finally we find an innovative space, the Starlight Room dedicated to the protection of the nocturnal environment against light pollution.

The Eye of Montsec

The Eye of Montsec is a unique installation in the world. It consists of a digital planetarium equipped with a 3D full dome (or complete dome) projection system that allows the recreation of both the current sky and any era, as well as the reproduction of films in full dome format that allow visitors to be shown aspects different from the purely astronomical ones, projected in a dome of 12 meters in diameter with the highest performance thanks to the active 3D system.

This equipment is also a platform for live sky observation. Its 12 m diameter dome and front wall open completely, leaving the visitor under the spectacular Montsec sky.

The Telescope Park

It is the space reserved for observing the firmament, both at night and during the day. It is made up of three buildings with astronomical domes and space for the installation of the Montsec Astronomical Park portable telescopes.

• A Dall-Kirkham configuration catadioptric telescope of 50 centimeters in diameter, located in the new Observatory-Aula. A new space that combines observatory functions with space enabled for 84 seated people to enjoy astronomical observation. This telescope is fully automated and contains the necessary equipment to obtain high-quality astronomical images.
• A catadioptric telescope of Schmidt-Cassegrain configuration of 40 centimeters in diameter, located in the Great Dome. This fully automated telescope is complete with the necessary equipment to obtain high-quality astronomical images.
• A refracting telescope of 15 centimeters in diameter and very high optical quality, located in the Small Dome. This exceptional telescope is complete with the necessary equipment to obtain high-quality astronomical images and with the most advanced equipment to allow the observation of the Sun with a telescope.
• A celostat. This device consists of a system for monitoring and obtaining real-time images of the Sun. These images are automatically projected on the ground floor of the Great Dome, allowing the observation of a solar disk of more than one meter in diameter.
• A set of portable telescopes with their accessories, made up of more than 20 devices of various optical types: refractors, Newton reflectors and catadioptrics. They will allow nighttime visitors to the Montsec Astronomical Park to get as close as possible to observing the sky.

Observing the Montsec sky ​: Book Starlight

Three seasons ago, Montsec Astronomical Park unanimously won the 2020 Starlight Award in the category of Education and Dissemination of Astronomy and the Dark Sky. An award that joins the Platinum Dark Sky ambassador category of the International Astronomical Union that he received in 2019. Additionally, the Montsec mountain range is the second place in the world to receive the double certification of Reserve and Tourist Destination Starlight in 2013, which has the endorsement of UNESCO.

The Park has wide international recognition thanks to the research carried out at the center itself. For this reason, for another season, it focuses its activity on the protection of the sky against light pollution. As a result, scientific dissemination takes advantage of the so-called “dark sky”, an exceptional and little-known natural resource, as the center of tourism that develops in the area, which translates into an increase in the economy of the region.

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