CATA brings science closer to the general public on Astronomy Day

The Center for Astrophysics and Related Technologies (CATA) began its participation in the activities of Astronomy Day with two events that brought science and technology closer to the community: the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Planetarium of the University of Santiago de Chile (USACH) and the fair “Women Exploring the Cosmos”, held at the Civic Cultural Center of El Bosque.

Under the slogan “Un Cielo en Común” (A Sky in Common), Astronomy Day commemorations began this week throughout the country, bringing together experts, institutions and enthusiasts around activities that seek to share knowledge of the cosmos with society.

In this way CATA participated in the 40th anniversary of the USACH Planetarium, an institution that has been a fundamental pillar in scientific dissemination in Latin America. During the day, our team installed a technology transfer booth, where visitors learned how astronomical science drives innovations applicable in various areas of society.

Representing CATA were Santiago Prat, leader of the Technology Transfer area, together with engineers Franco Curotto and Juan Riquelme. Prat highlighted the importance of the Center’s participation in this commemoration: “The planetarium is celebrating 40 years as a reference for the dissemination of astronomy, related sciences and culture in Latin America, seeking to contribute to the education of people, CATA wanted to be present at this important celebration, since from astronomy we also seek to impact the lives of people, in our case from science and astronomical technology we are developing and transferring technological solutions for opportunities that arise in the national productive world”.

Fair “Women Exploring the Cosmos”.

Meanwhile, the “Women Exploring the Cosmos” fair was held at the El Bosque Civic Cultural Center, an event that combined science, learning and entertainment with a large attendance. The activity offered interactive exhibits, games and astronomical observation, allowing the community to explore the universe in a didactic and accessible way.

Among the guests was CATA astronomer and popularizer Tracy Catalán, who presented the talk “The secret code of the stars”, in which she explained how science has managed to decipher the composition of the stars thanks to the pioneering work of scientist Margaret Ruth. “The idea was to show where the famous phrase ‘We are stardust’ comes from and how stellar nucleosynthesis allows the formation of chemical elements essential for life on Earth,” commented Catalán.

The event was also attended by other women scientists, as well as the mayor of El Bosque, Manuel Zúñiga and councilors of the commune, reaffirming the commitment of local governments to scientific dissemination.

These activities, framed within the National Astronomy Day: “A Sky in Common”, reflect CATA’s commitment to astronomy outreach and its purpose of bringing scientific knowledge to the public. Beyond research and technological development, astronomy is a source of inspiration that connects us with the universe and with our own history as humanity.

With these initiatives, CATA continues to strengthen its bond with society, promoting curiosity, learning and fascination for the cosmos in children, young people and adults throughout the country.