Do you want to be an eclipse hunter?

This coming August 12th there will be a total solar eclipse that can be seen very close to us. It will be visible along a wide transversal strip that will cross the peninsula from Galicia to the Balearic Islands, including an important territory of Lleida and Terres de l’Ebre. Sold-out locations and astronomical prices in hotels. Maria Àngels Gil, from Còsmik, the shop on Viladomat street specializing in astronomy, explains it to us. They have been selling protective glasses for months and the closer the day gets, the more certain it is that sales will not decrease. It is a happy coincidence, that of the eclipse. And next year and the year after there will also be solar eclipses visible to us. Lucky! Exclaims Maria Àngels, who together with her husband, Xavier Górriz, have already spent many years immersed in a business that seems extremely specialized, but which is aimed at a wider range of the public than one might imagine. Is astronomy popular? Of course it is!

Maria Àngels is a physicist specializing in astronomy. She worked for years as a teacher in educational centers and gave talks on the subject and observation workshops with telescopes. “Listen, and where do you buy telescopes?”, was a very common question. Until they decided to take the plunge and in 2007 Còsmik was born, initially with few sales – online, of course – and a lot of outreach, activities, talks, etc., until the 2008 crisis brought a sudden halt. It was the ideal time to specialize and establish their physical presence that would allow them to offer a very interesting service: in-person. First in a mezzanine on Josep Tarradellas street and since 2016 at the current Viladomat premises. What does in-person allow? Well, it allows for personalized advice, teaching how to use the equipment, and the possibility of enrolling in courses and workshops. “Think that we even go to people’s homes to explain how the telescope they bought online works and they have no idea how to handle it”. And online demonstrations? As incredible as it may seem, yes!

The shop has several sections and a classroom at the very end for courses. What kind of courses? Well, telescope use, sky observation, and astronomy courses of various levels. From stellar evolution, the morphology of the sun, the measurement of distances, etc. In the shop, they have three essential sections: telescopes, binoculars, and microscopes, and technical service. In this last section, they can offer repair and maintenance services beyond astronomy to all trades that use optical devices: schools, laboratories, doctors, etc. They offer all kinds of telescopes. From beginner ones – with which you can see the moon and constellations well – to more advanced ones, which allow, for example, seeing deep sky objects: nebulae, galaxies, clusters... A beginner one can cost you between 100 and 150 euros. On a second level, between 300 and 500, and on a third, we would be talking about automatic telescopes, which allow, among other things, taking photographs, and which would cost more than 600 euros.

What kind of clientele do you have? Well, the client who is curious about the subject and wishes to start. Also the experienced amateur who participates in international astronomy programs. Such as, for example, supernova hunters. And the university student, of course. Eclipse hunters, as they are called, are a species apart. They dedicate themselves to traveling all over the world, eager for the tenacious and obsessive observation – in the best sense – of this fascinating natural phenomenon.

Còsmik, it is worth emphasizing, is not a shop only open to astronomy connoisseurs. You can also buy all kinds of binoculars – for other hobbies like hiking, for example – or magnifying glasses. Also specialized and entertainment books, projectors, and gifts related to planetariums, stars, constellations, the solar system... Còsmik, astronomy within everyone's reach.