CATA invites to celebrate Astronomy Day in the former National Congress

The Center for Astrophysics and Related Technologies (CATA) and the Future Challenges Commission of the Senate are commemorating Astronomy Day with a special day at the former National Congress on Tuesday, March 18. During the event, leading astronomers and researchers will share their knowledge and discuss the great mysteries of the universe.

This celebration is part of the Astronomy Week, which takes place throughout the country with various science outreach activities. In this framework, CATA will present for the second consecutive year its program “Astronomy in the Ex Congress”, offering talks, lectures and interactive spaces to bring science to the community.

The day will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the discussion “Chilean Skies and Future Observatories”, where four prominent astronomers and CATA researchers will analyze the key role of Chile in world astronomy. Participants will include Ezequiel Treister (Pontificia Universidad Católica), Laura Pérez (Universidad de Chile), Dante Minniti (Universidad Andrés Bello) and Bárbara Rojas-Ayala (Universidad de Tarapacá), who will discuss the impact of Chilean skies on astronomical research, future observing projects and the importance of their protection.

“Scientific knowledge often seems far away, but in Chile, thanks to our natural conditions and our privileged skies, we carry out astronomical research and discoveries of great impact,” said Ezequiel Treister, director and principal investigator of CATA.

At 11:30 a.m., astronomer Gaspar Galaz, associate researcher of the center and academic of the Pontificia Universidad Católica, will give a talk on “Diffuse galaxies and the importance of dark skies” in the Presidents’ Hall, addressing the study of these astronomical structures and the relevance of preserving the darkness of our skies.

Between 12:30 and 14:30 hours, attendees will be able to enjoy a Solar Observation with telescopes installed outside the Congress, as well as participate in interactive activities organized by LEGO, designed to bring astronomy closer to children and adults in a playful way.

In the afternoon, at 3:00 pm, astronomer Manuel Aravena (Universidad Diego Portales) will give a talk on “Revealing Cosmic History: Galaxies, Expansion and the ELT”, in which he will explore the evolution of the universe, the Big Bang and the advances in the study of galaxies thanks to the ALMA and James Webb telescopes. He will also present the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), the world’s largest telescope under construction in Chile, and its impact on the future of astronomy.

“Chile is a world reference in astronomy, with unique comparative advantages with respect to scientific powers such as the U.S., Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan. Our skies are an invaluable resource that we must protect and take advantage of for the scientific and educational development of the country,” emphasized Aravena.

Bringing astronomy closer to the community

The event seeks to awaken the interest of children and young people in science, showing that astronomy is a discipline that is close and accessible. Elise Servajean, general manager of CATA, emphasized the center’s commitment to scientific dissemination: “Our goal is that young people can see astronomy as something concrete and achievable. We want them to understand that astronomers are people close to them and that they themselves can dedicate themselves to this discipline in the future,” she said.

Finally, the organizers extended an open invitation to the entire community to join the activities of Astronomy Week. “There are many initiatives throughout the country. Look for events in your communities and enjoy this day dedicated to exploring the universe,” they concluded.