Activities for an astronomical day organised by the Cabildo of Fuerteventura kicked off on Wednesday at the La Atalayita Interpretation Centre. Residents enjoyed a range of events centred on the solar eclipse and the Perseid meteor shower.
The programme began at 10:00 AM with solar observations using professional telescopes, informative talks, spectrograph demonstrations, and a meteorite presentation. It will continue later with a workshop on the Sun and eclipses, leading up to the highlight of the day: the partial solar eclipse, which will reach its maximum at 19:53.
Rayco León, the councillor for Museums, said, “Today, La Atalayita becomes a gathering place to witness a very special astronomical phenomenon. We want this day to teach safe sky observation and bring astronomy to people of all ages.”
Carlos Muñoz from AstroCiencia Nómada added that Fuerteventura will be one of the best locations in the Canaries to view the eclipse, with nearly 72% coverage. As it occurs close to sunset, it promises a stunning spectacle before the Perseid meteor shower begins.
The activities will continue until nightfall. From 21:00, there will be a workshop on astrophotography and observations of the Perseids. Attendees can help count and photograph meteors and observe Saturn and deep sky objects with specialised equipment.
The event is free and open to all, with no prior registration needed. The full programme can be found on the Museos Fuerteventura website.
