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Date Published: 14/07/2023

Finca Astronomica: discover all the amazing supermoons and meteor showers that are visible this summer

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Find out what full moons and wonderful sights you can see this July, August and September… as many reasons to visit the Finca Astronomica in Murcia this summer as there are stars in the night sky!

Finca Astronomica: discover all the amazing supermoons and meteor showers that are visible this summer

What better way to relax after a very sunny day on the beach than having great evening/night-time entertainment? And what better way to get that than a visit to Finca Astronomica on the outskirts of Cartagena for an unforgettable evening under the starry sky?

Finca Astronomica, located halfway between Cartagena and Fuente Álamo, is a magical place where you can enjoy all sorts of fun and activities such as a bonfire with marshmallows, a delicious dinner, loads of fun activities for children and adults including darts, bow shooting, nerf fights, and many more, friendly animals you can pet and feed and cuddle with, and when darkness comes – a journey to the stars!

As soon as the last light of the sun disappears below the horizon, the astronomers from Finca Astronomica start their amazing stories about the night sky. They will show you the stars and constellations with astronomical lasers and then the most spectacular objects via their big telescopes. You can see the surface of the Moon, Saturn, distant galaxies and nebulas, and much more! And for the furthest objects, there’s a robotic telescope that will allow for taking breathtaking pictures you can later share with your friends and family.

Throughout the whole year, there are regular Astronomy tours every Saturday. But in Summer the Finca is ready for your visit every day! You can also stay the night in their cute and comfy glamping pods or a big tent with regular comfy beds. There’s also a little pool to chill in.

And if you wonder what sorts of astronomical gems you can enjoy in summer, you are in for a treat as Summer is a spectacular time for a long night under the stars!

Stargazer’s summer: what’s happening in the night sky this July, August and September?

Summer is a beloved stargazer’s period, full of amazing events and spectacular observations, especially this year! This year’s summer already started with a big event as there was a Supermoon on July 3 but for those who missed it – brace for great news – there are three more coming on August 1, August 31 (being additionally the very rare Blue Moon Supermoon), and then September 29.

On July 17, the biggest Meteor Shower of the year begins and will light the night sky till August 24.

On July 21 there will be the first appearance of Saturn in the evening sky. The crown of the Solar System will be visible with its magnificent rings and the moons orbiting it.

Throughout the whole summer, you can enjoy the breathtaking sight of the centre of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, and the most spectacular distant objects within it.

Supermoon

Presentation of the moon on big screen during a Supermoon event

A Supermoon is a full moon or a new moon that coincides with perigee – the closest that the Moon comes to the Earth in its elliptic orbit – resulting in a larger-than-usual apparent size of the Moon as viewed from Earth as well as its higher brilliance. This phenomenon allows us a spectacular sight of our natural satellite and the most breathtaking telescope observations of its surface.

Don’t miss this amazing sight and if you’d like to celebrate the occasion with music, a delicious dinner, and a bonfire, join the astronomers in Finca Astronomica for a special Supermoon Party!

See contact details below for Finca Astronomica

The biggest meteor shower of the year

The perseids, known in Spain as ‘Lagrimas de San Lorenzo’, start their activity on July 17 and will continue to grace the night sky with shooting stars till August 24. The peak of this spectacular Meteor Shower will take place on August 11, 12 and 13 and we’re expecting up to 100 meteors per hour!

What is a meteor shower though?

Perseid meteor shower is caused by the Earth slamming into the debris left behind by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle and it gets its name as the meteors seem to originate from the constellation of Perseus.

During dark nights in late July and August remember to look up and have a wish (or in this case wishes) ready for when you see a shooting star.

In July and August, Finca Astronomica is hosting events every night so if you’d like to spend the night away from the city lights and enjoy the night sky sitting by a bonfire, don’t hesitate to book your stay now!

Using lasers to find specific objects and to show which ones are being observed

Once every Blue Moon…

We all use the phrase occasionally, but did you know it has an astronomical origin?

All full moons have their own names; we have a Wolf Moon in January, Strawberry Moon in June, Harvest Moon in September, and so on. A Blue Moon appears in our sky when it’s the second full moon in the same month.

Since a full moon appears every 28 days, it’s a rare occurrence that we have two in the period of just one month. On average, a blue moon occurs once every 33 months, around 41 times per century, or about seven times every 19 years… hence the well-known expression “once in a blue moon”.

Such a rare occasion calls for a party, so of course a ‘Once in a Blue Moon Party’ will take place in Finca Astronomica on August 31. Book now to secure availability!

Wonders of the Milky Way

As summertime gives us the magnificent sight of the center of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, there is a variety of very distant objects to observe with optical and robotic telescopes. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the Lagoon Nebula, a nursery for baby stars, the Ring Nebula, a remnant of a dying star, the Ptolemy Cluster, and many other breathtaking objects! For those observations book your stay any time during Summer!

Goodbye summer, hello neighbouring galaxy!

As the summer days grow to an end, the night sky gives us a final goodbye party with the last Supermoon of the year on September 29. Before that, however, a special guest will appear to remind us that we’re not alone in the universe and there’s always somewhere for us to look for another celestial spectacle.

By mid-September, our closest neighbouring galaxy will appear on the evening sky giving us the most awe-inspiring opportunity to gaze at its magnificent shape via optical telescope and take the most spectacular pictures with the robotic telescope.

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The Astronomy and Science Centre Foundation has star-themed events and activities to delight novices and experts of all ages

Astronomy Tours stargazing and astronomical activities in Murcia

Astronomy Tours runs a whole host of astronomical activities and events in the Murcia Region, from astronomical observation sessions to a magical cruise under the stars, to really fire up an interest in the cosmic world beyond our atmosphere.

Their main base of operations is the Finca Astronomica, located close to the town of La Aljorra in the Campo de Cartagena, where you can join their astronomy tours either in the daytime or at night, all year round.

At the Finca, you’re welcomed with delicious food, drinks, a bonfire and a variety of astronomical tools and gadgets. In the summer season, they also have tours in other locations, including San Pedro del Pinatar, La Manga and Camposol, not to mention their unmissable cruise under the stars, which involves a nighttime cruise on the Mar Menor with tapas and drinks, plus a guided presentation of the night sky as you watch the galaxy glide by.

The Astronomy Tours and the Finca Astronomica are supported by the Astronomy and Science Centre Foundation, which was founded in 2019 by a group of astronomers and Starlight-certified guides and monitors in the astronomical observatories in Spain.

The purpose of the Foundation is to promote the knowledge and interest in the field of astronomy and astronomy-related sciences, which covers areas such as physics, chemistry, biology, geology, but also history, archeology, urban and medical aspects of social life, literature, art, culture and (of course) astrology.

By promoting this knowledge and getting their customers interested in astronomy, the Foundation hopes to achieve higher goals such as bringing the stars a little closer to people, and helping them to understand the importance of caring about our planet and the whole human population as a one.

To achieve those goals, the Foundation organises its day- and nighttime activities and camps which are suitable for both children and adults, and as well as this they work with Astronomy Tours stargazing and astronomical activities in Murcia

schools and organisations and write books for children to bring astronomy to the masses.

As part of this mission, they’re creating an astronomically themed park right on the Costa Cálida called the Astronomy and Science Centre which has an observatory available to the public to see the stars and the planets, and where they also promote ecofriendly and sustainable activities and closeness to nature.

The Finca Astronomica even has its own friendly and well cared for animals which live in really big spaces where people can easily enter and interact with them in their own environment.

What’s more, you can get involved in all sorts of other fun and activities for all the family at the Finca Astronomica, including glamping under the stars, stroking the animals at their petting zoo and enjoying sports like darts, archery, nerf gun fights, and many more.

This year, Finca Astronomica is excited to unveil its very own Yurt Village. Alongside the beautifully crafted wooden glamping pods, the yurts combine traditional charm with all the modern comforts including double beds, cosy carpets and plenty of shelving for your personal belongings.

But that’s not all. Each yurt comes handily equipped with light and electricity, so that you can charge your devices even as you recharge your spirit under the vast, starry sky.

This summer season is about to come alive with regular tours happening three days a week, while Adult Only Fridays are just around the corner.

Tours are available in English, Spanish and Polish.