In the village nearest us, La Pedriza, a new observatory has been built - opening just a few weeks ago in March. This month, they are running their first astrological course and Mateo is attending. 20 hours of theory and 10 hours of practice.
Today he has been able to look at the sun and has seen sun spots and flares. He is impressed with the knowledge of the instructors - which is good, he's a stern critic - and has already notched up 10 hours of theory since last night. This evening, he will go back again to do some practical star-gazing and the weather looks nice and clear.
Ruy and I went to meet him this lunchtime and it gave us an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful countryside around us and be so glad we live where we live.
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| Looking across the little valley. Our house on the left and if you follow the low white wall, you can just see our ruins in the middle of the photo. |
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| The new observatory lecture hall |
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| and the cupola housing the telescope. |
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| The building is surrounded by fields carpeted with wild flowers - the buzzing of happy insects was everywhere! |
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| So pretty |
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| Splashes of colour |
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The orange flowers which my camera didn't do justice to - the orange colour was really intense.
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Good luck to the observatory in coming years. We get some wonderful skies to observe with the naked eye - I'm looking forward to hearing what Mateo sees through the telescope this evening....but maybe I'll wait til morning. He goes at 10pm and stays until he's 'had enough'. I wonder if they realise just how long that might take?
