- Address: Ingreso A Casleo - Pnel, San Juan, Argentina
- Phone: 0264-4213653
- Website: www.casleo.gov.ar
In Argentina , in the province of San Juan , in the territory of the National Park of El Leoncito is the world famous astronomical complex (Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito - CASLEO).
general information
From here one can observe the celestial bodies and cosmic phenomena. This is one of the best places on our planet with excellent visibility, located at an altitude of 2,552 m above sea level in an ecologically clean reserve.
The location of the observatory was chosen very successfully. Firstly, considerable distance from large cities, as well as from their lights and dust. Secondly, there are simply ideal natural conditions: low humidity, cloudlessness and windlessness almost all the year round.
This complex was founded in May 1983 thanks to a contract between the National Universities of San Juan, Cordoba , La Plata and the Ministry of Industrial Innovation, Technology and Science. The opening of the institution took place in September 1986, and permanent observations were conducted from March 1, 1987.
Description of the astronomical complex
In the observatory, the main telescope is called Jorge Sahade. It, together with the lens, has a base diameter of 2.15 m and a weight of almost 40 tons. Its main function is to collect the emitted light from the observed cosmic body, and also to focus it on special instruments for further analysis and study. Due to this, various studies are conducted here and scientific discoveries are taking place.
Currently, the institution employs about 20 employees, who mainly deal with:
- fixation of solar activity;
- observation of the Sun and the solar system;
- study and discovery of new asteroids (for today more than 100 objects have been found, one of them is called the observatory - El Leoncito).
The most famous researchers here are Virpi Sinikka Niemelä and Isadore Epstein. Also in the institution there is such equipment as:
- Telescope "Helen Sawyer Hogg" with a diameter of 60 cm, which belongs to the Canadian University. It was installed on a special site, on Mount Burek.
- Astrologer of the Southern Hemisphere Centurion-18. He is controlled remotely via the Internet.
- Submillimeter solar telescope with a frequency of 405 and 212 GHz. This is the so-called radio telescope from the Cassegrain system, whose diameter is 1.5 m.
These devices are located about 7 km from the observatory and near them there are auxiliary buildings that represent an astronomical complex.
Visit to El Leoncito
For travelers who want to watch the stars, special excursions are organized here. Visitors will get acquainted with the work of the institution, its equipment and, most importantly, space objects: galaxies, planets, stars, star clusters and the Moon.
The complex can be visited in the daytime from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 17:00. The tour lasts 30-40 minutes, and the observation in the telescope depends on your desire and interest. On certain days, when there is some cosmic event, the observatory can be visited at night (after 5 pm), the program also includes dinner.
When going to the observatory, remember that it is at a high altitude and it is quite cold here, so take warm things with you. The guests are offered a conference hall, dining room and rest room, it has 26 rooms with bathroom, internet and TV. The total capacity of the complex is 50 people.
It is forbidden to come to children under 4 years old, people over 70, people who are drunk and take animals with them. An astronomical observatory is visited by about 6000 people a year.
How to get there?
From the nearby town of Barreal to the El Leóncito National Park, you can drive by road RN 149 or with an organized tour. Arriving in the reserve, navigate the map or signs.
If you dream to get acquainted with various space objects, watch the stars or see the stars, then visit the astronomical complex of El-Leoncito is definitely necessary.
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