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.
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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). 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).](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_square_2_2_to_320px/public/images/news/img_prensa_prensa1601_3910_hi%281%29.jpg?h=f7fd901f&itok=J-evufxB)
![Vecinos de Garafía en la jornada de Puertas Abiertas en el Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos. Crédito: Antonio González/IAC. Vecinos de Garafía en la jornada de Puertas Abiertas en el Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos. Crédito: Antonio González/IAC.](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_square_2_2_to_320px/public/images/gallery/news/prensa1260_2772.jpg?itok=6mDquhUP)