Newsletter – April 2018 – Observatório do Lago Alqueva

Newsletter April 2018



News

	OLA cooperated on the activities held on the Day of Reguengos de Monsaraz Schools Group
	On the past March 22^nd, OLA participated on the Day of Reguengos de Monsaraz Schools Group. During the morning we safely showed the Sun with telescopes to several hundred students from various schools of the Group. This session took place at the Conde de Monsaraz Secondary School.

	Nacional Astronomy Olympiads at OLA in May
	On May 25^th and 26^th, OLA hosts the Nacional Astronomy Olympiads Final. On these two days, the 10 finalists will test their astronomical knowledge in two exams, one theoretical and the other one practical. The National Astronomy Olympiads are open to all the students of the national secondary schools and are promoted by the Sociedade Portuguesa de Astronomia (Portuguese Astronomy Society).

In April e May, the Observatório do Lago Alqueva waits for you!

	Night stargazing session From Tuesday to Saturday at 21h30
	A walk through the night sky of the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, where one can learn the orientation by the Northern Star, identify constellations and their legends, relate colours of stars with their ages, observe star clusters, nebulas and distant galaxies with the help of telescopes. The explanations are provided in simple language by the OLA’s guides.

	Saturdays at 16h30 Young Astronomers
	In these activities, the young scientists learn more about Science and Astronomy in an amusing and relaxed environment. Apr 7^th – Target Shooting – Crater Formation on the Moon Apr 21^st – Mass and Weight, what is the diference? Apr 28^th – Nocturlabes Construction May 19^th – Sundials Construction

	From Apr 7^th to 8^th – Astronomer for a night
	During the night from Apr 7th to 8th the participants are the astronomers on duty. They learn how to use the main telescope of OLA, to acquire images and process them in order to obtain superb images of distant galaxies and nebulas that they can take back home. Registration limited to a maximum of 5 people.

	Apr 14^th at 19h00 – Science Café – 2019: 50 years of Man on the Moon and 100 years of Eddington at Prince
	By José Saraiva, Joana Latas and Rosa Doran. On this Science Café we intend to outline two important anniversaries: the 50 years of Man walking on the Moon and the centenary of the May 29^th 1919 solar eclipse, that allowed the experimental validation of General Relativity Theory

	Apr 14^th – OLA’s Messier Marathon
	One night, 110 deep sky objects – During the night of April 14th, OLA has a challenge for you. To observe the 110 Messier objects visually in the time that goes from sunset to sunrise. OLA will be open all night from 14th to 15th. For more info, check the event page here.

	Apr 20^th to 21^st – Astrophotographer for a night
	In just two hours, the participants are introduced and practice in our park the definitions that cameras must have in order to give the first steps into landscape astrophotography. Registration limited to a maximum of 5 people.

	May 5^th – Open day
	OLA will celebrate on the next May 5^th the second anniversary of the conclusion of the main building and the official start of the observatory activity. On this day we will have many activities for kids and adults alike. Join us and come taste our anniversary cake. More info and program available soon here.

	May 5^th at 21h30 – Science Café: The history of the sextant
	Nelson Nunes (OLA, IA, FCUL) will make a sumary about several nautical instruments that sailors used through time to find the position at sea: Kamal, Crosstaff, Quadrant, Astrolab, Sextant, GPS. We will explore how they look like and how they work using the items from the Observatório do Lago Alqueva.

	May 9^th at 21h30 – Thematic Observation: Jupiter Opposition
	On this night the biggest planet in the solar system reaches opposition. That means that the planet will be diametrically opposed to the Sun, relative to the position of Earth in the solar system. For this reason, on this day when the sun sets, Jupiter will rise on the Eastern horizon and will be available to observation all night long. It will be one of this year’s best nights to watch the biggest of all the planets in the solar system.

	From May 11^th to 12^th – Astronomer for a night
	In the night from Apr 7th to 8th the participants are the astronomers on duty. They learn how to use the main telescope of OLA, to acquire images and process them in order to obtain superb images of distant galaxies and nebulas that they can take back home. Registration limited to a maximum of 5 people.

	From May 18^th to 19^th – Astrophotographer for a night
	In just two hours, the participants are introduced and practice in our park the definitions that cameras must have in order to give the first steps into landscape astrophotography. Registration limited to a maximum of 5 people.


Monsaraz	N 38° 26′ 35.5″ W 7° 22′ 01.5″
www.olagoalqueva.pt	+351 960361906