A summer to look at the stars
Stars, constellations, planets... The summer months are some of the best for looking at the sky and discovering the magic hidden in the universe.
The activities offered by the astronomical observatories in Catalonia are the best way to enjoy the starry summer sky and learn the mysteries of the universe through a telescope. We suggest some experiences so you won't be the last to know when to make a wish upon a shooting star.
Prades Astronomical Park
The night sky of the Prades Mountains and the Montsant Mountains is the largest area in Europe protected from light pollution, and is also recognized as a Starlight Tourist Destination for its excellent quality. Among the activities offered to discover this night sky, this year marks the first edition of the Pulsar Festival, which will combine music, astronomy, and zero-mile products. It will be held on two dates: August 1 and September 11. In addition, as usual, the festival will continue to offer shows. Selene, Gaia and Cosmos, and dinners under the stars.
On the other hand, the Park will also hold a special event in collaboration with the Prades City Council to kick off the countdown to the Great Total Solar Eclipse, which will be particularly visible in the Tarragona area in the summer of 2026. On August 12, they have organized a lecture by Josep Masalles, the person in Spain who has seen it.
Garraf Park Astronomical Observatory
Located in a privileged setting, the Garraf Park Astronomical Observatory is a welcoming, family-friendly space where Rat and Carles will personally assist you and make you feel at home. At night, the darkness of this inner part of the park allows you to see the Milky Way with the naked eye, as it is probably one of the darkest spots in the immediate vicinity of Barcelona. Inside, you'll find a digital planetarium and a 280 mm aperture Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Outside, you'll find a platform for telescopes and various astronomical instruments.
The tours they usually organize last approximately two hours and are divided into three parts: a planetarium session, naked-eye sky observation, and telescope observation. Additionally, in August, as every summer, they schedule special sessions to observe the Perseids. Also noteworthy is the Art and Sky activity, which combines tastings of local products, painting with wine with the artist Marta Arañó, and naked-eye and telescope sky observation. You can find a calendar of all the activities planned throughout the year on their website.
Castelltallat Astronomical Observatory
The Castelltallat Astronomical Observatory is located at the highest point of the Castelltallat Mountains, at an altitude of 930 meters. Its activities are extensive. Every Friday and Saturday, from June 20th to September 20th, the activityThe summer skyIt will explain how stars are born, live, and die, and whether there is life beyond Earth. It's a unique opportunity to tour the facilities and see the Hercules globular cluster and the Ring Nebula with your own eyes. Plus, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from June 24 to September 18, you can enjoy this expanded and almost personalized experience reserved for groups of up to six people.
From June 22 to September 14, every first Sunday of the month, the Observatory also schedules a daytime session to explore and discover more about the sun. On the evenings of August 8 to 17, the Perseids will be the center of attention, with a program combining a talk about this phenomenon with the two magnificent summer skies. August 30, on the other hand, is the Night of the Moon, as the best time to discover everything our satellite hides is during the first quarter of the moon. A week later, on September 7, the Observatory organizes a lunar eclipse monitoring session. And on September 11, 12, and 13, the planet Saturn will be the center of the observations carried out by the team.
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Albanyà Astronomical Observatory
The Albanyà Observatory boasts state-of-the-art astronomical equipment, including the largest telescope in the province of Girona. Its advanced facilities allow for the dissemination of astronomy to the uninitiated public and scientific research for professional astronomers. Throughout the year, it organizes various astronomical baptisms, a unique sensorial experience through an audiovisual tour of the firmament adapted to the current meteorological conditions and the time of year.
The facility also offers training workshops for anyone who wants to learn more about the universe and how to use a telescope. The Observatory also has a team of astronomers specialized in astronomy outreach and a complete set of portable telescopes for conducting astronomy sessions anywhere in Catalonia.
Montsec Astronomical Park
The Montsec Astronomical Park is located in Àger, in the Noguera region, considered the best place for skywatching in Catalonia due to its low rainfall, low light pollution, and altitude. The Starlight certification it obtained a few years ago confirms this.
The park brings science to the public to showcase the grandeur of the night sky. Its wide range of activities is available year-round. Although it also offers daytime experiences, the park's magic is best captured through its nighttime offerings, designed for the whole family. Some offerings are scheduled according to the lunar cycle, so it's best to check the dates on its website. The guided tour is also a highlight.The Eye of Montsec. It is a digital multimedia planetarium with a 12-meter diameter mobile dome, where the film is projected.GranPa & ZoeThe session concludes with an explanation of the night sky and the opening of the dome to observe the real sky and identify some of the most prominent night objects with the help of a specialized monitor.
Fabra Observatory
Located high above Barcelona, at the foot of Tibidabo, with an unbeatable view of the city, the Fabra Observatory is one of the oldest active observatories in the world. It has been dedicated to the study of meteorology, seismology, and astronomy for over a century, but also to outreach. It does this through tours, and especially in the summer, the dinners it holds under the stars—organized by Sternalia—are well-known. This experience also includes a guided tour of the facility, a talk, access to the dome's terrace to enjoy a panoramic view of Barcelona, and, weather permitting, the opportunity to observe. It is one of the oldest in Europe still in operation.
If you choose to visit during the day, you'll receive explanations about all the active sections: astronomy, meteorology, and seismology. You'll also tour the Art Nouveau hall, the museum, the dome, and learn about the operation of the two century-old telescopes, the library, and the terrace. Finally, you'll learn about the lives of the tenant farmers who lived in the building at the beginning of the 20th century.
The viewpoints of the Boí Valley
While this isn't an astronomical facility, you can visit the Boi Valley and several surrounding municipalities to admire the summer night sky, as they are part of the Starlight Tourist Destination, a certification that recognizes the quality of the night sky and the efforts to preserve it.
Thus, some of the privileged spots for contemplating the phenomena that occur among the stars are the Stars viewpoint in Boí Taüll, the astronomical viewpoint in Sant Quirc, the Santita viewpoint in the village of Taüll, the Tozal Grande viewpoint in Boí (along the Boí Water Path in Barruera), the Salit de Parcera viewpoint in Barruera, Aigüestortes, and Estany de Sant Maurici. These are unique places to connect with the universe and nature.