Social dinner
A social buffet dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27th
Visit to Serra La Nave Observatory and Silvestri Craters
On May 28, a social trip is planned to the Serra La Nave Observing Station, located on Mount Etna, approximately 30 km from Catania and 15 km from Nicolosi. Altitude: 1725 m.
The station is named after Mario Girolamo Fracastoro, former Director of the Astrophysical Observatory of Catania in 1960s, and serves as an active hub for professional astronomical research. The facility hosts:
- the 91 cm aperture Colacevich telescope. This is a reflector telescope with a Cassegrain ptical configuration and German equatorial mount. It operates in the visible and near infrared and is equipped with a high-resolution echelle spectrograph mounted at the focus. Open to the stellar community, it is used for spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric investigations;
- a reflector telescope with diameter of 61 cm historically operated together the 91 cm telescope for photometric observations, and now dismantled;
- the 80 cm APT2 robotic telescope, dedicated to imaging photometry;
- ASTRI-Horn, a prototype Cherenkov telescope that is part of the international Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) project, designed to detect ultra-high-energy particles through their interactions with the Earth’s atmosphere.
In addition to its scientific activities, the facility also supports educational and public outreach initiatives, contributing to the dissemination of astronomical knowledge and promoting science engagement.
Recommendations for the trip:
Please ensure you have appropriate clothing and gear:
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Footwear: We recommend closed-toe shoes suitable for walking on uneven, volcanic terrain.
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Clothing: Since we will be reaching altitudes near 2,000 meters, temperatures may be significantly lower than at sea level, and it can be quite windy. Please bring a jacket or layers to stay warm.
Goodbye party
The last night of the week (Friday, 29) will be dedicated to a goodbye party with food, music and much more. Stay tuned!