Fundación Canaria Observatorio de Temisas — Attraction in Agüimes

The place is actually really spot on but for a non Spanish speaker or a beginner the presentation is impossible to understand. I booked a tour for my partner’s bday and in the booking (made a week before) it was specified that we would need an English speaker (it was actually an option that the website offered). After I booked and paid, the confirmation was received. Only one day before the event I received an email stating that English explanation was not available. As I am okay with Spanish I thought it wasn’t going to be a problem. On the night of the event when the presentation started I realised that the astronomer was speaking very very fast and that made it impossible for me to keep up and at the same time translate for my partner so I raised my hand and kindly asked him to speak slower. His reply was (in Spanish): this is how we speak here in the south. It’s our way and our accent. But ok, I will try. I said thank you and didn’t respond to the rudeness as I didn’t want to ruin it for anybody (by the way it was a small group experience - about 10/12 people and only 2 pax were Spanish). After my request the astronomer thought that by speaking slower I meant louder (I asked him in Spanish) so rather than slowing down, he just spoke louder. Not helpful of course. The group presentation became a private tour for the 2 lucky Spanish speakers who were asking him a lot of questions which he was very eager to respond to while all us other were patiently waiting for the telescope observation which was going to be the only pleasant thing left to do but this short presentation lasted about 2 very very long hours. The kind astronomer didn’t even think to at least keep it short as 98% of the crowd wasn’t understanding a thing. And of course when it came to the observation he was interacting and giving precedence to his only two Spanish interlocutors. I gave 2 stars for the 2 only planets we managed to see (Jupiter and Saturn) as on top of everything it was so windy that by the time we would set our eye on the lens it had moved away from the focus point. It could have been much better. Language is a limit only if the people are not interested in not making it...

Mi familia y yo hemos pasado una maravillosa velada, con motivo del Solsticio de Verano.

Degustamos productos de la zona de Temisas (papas arrugadas con mojo, pan con aceite de oliva virgen extra, queso semicurado y aceitunas adobadas).

Escuchamos unas preciosas canciones de la Coral femenina Chelys Odalys.

Luego el señor Oswaldo Pai nos ofreció una conferencia teatralizada bastante divertida y relacionada con la astronomía, llamada “Garbeo Cósmico”. A mis hijos les gustó mucho.

Debido a que se metieron nubes nos dijeron que no podrían ofrecernos la observación de las estrellas por el telescopio, pero si queríamos quedarnos ellos intentarían explicarnos una introducción de la observación de las estrellas. Si teníamos suerte y se despeja podríamos ver algunas estrellas, aunque no daban seguridad, es normal no se puede controlar el tiempo atmosférico.

Decidimos quedarnos y la nube nos permitió ver lo suficiente para comprender la explicación de los astrónomos del Observatorio Astronómico de Temisas, sobre algunas nociones sobre observación del firmamento qué podemos observar y por qué es privilegiado el cielo de las Islas Canarias.

En ocasiones la nube nos permitió ver una gran cantidad de estrellas, además de la proyección en una pantalla del planeta Júpiter tomada en directo por el telescopio del observatorio, más tarde pudimos ver unas estrellas binarias con unos binoculares astronomicos.

Totalmente recomendable la experiencia, recomiendo llevar algo más de abrigo del que piensas que hará falta. La altura, la brisa y tanto tiempo arriba el frío va calando.

Llegar con algo de tiempo porque está un poco lejos, así podrán coger un buen aparcamiento (en la fiesta del sosticio asiste bastante gente con su coche) y para coger sillas para las actuaciones, no habían suficientes para todos los que allí estábamos.

Al ir con niños (15 y 10) no sabría si les gustaría. En general se lo pasaron muy bien, salvo al final que con el frío, algo de sueño, la falta de la observación de las estrellas, desconectaron de la explicación de cómo se observa el firmamento y querían irse. Aunque no le hecho la culpa al astrónomo, que a mi parecer su explicación fue bastante sencilla e instructiva, creo que mis hijos son víctimas de la falta de atención de la generación actual, que si no se les presenta el "show" en una pantalla a modo de videojuego o vídeo super exitante de youtube no les llama...

I'm really happy with the session and I had spended really good time. Was really useful for me.

The place around observatory is amazing. Good mountain nature of Grand Canaria also good views of the local beach.

About the session everything was really well explained and all my questions answered. Good talks about Black Holes, Clusters, Nebula and Big Bang, new NASA resurches, James Web telescope everything you need to know if you interested in that topic explained by profesionalist.

Main telescope looks professional and you have good view of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and few Clusters (I don't remember the name :D)

What amaze me is view of Milki Way just out of the observatory wich you are able to see without any telescope or instruments.

Really well spended...