- Address: Ingreso Observatorio Cesco - Pnel, San Juan, Argentina
- Phone: 0264-4231467 / 4238494
- Website: www.oafa.fcefn.unsj-cuim.edu.ar
- Type: astronomical observatory
- Height: 2420 m
- Opening date: 1965
Argentina , according to many travelers, is one of the most beautiful countries in South America. In it, everyone will find for themselves something amazing and unique: the famous Iguazu Falls , the unusual for this region the Glacieres Glaciers Park , the colorful valley of Quebrada de Umauaca and many others. etc. However, there are places in Argentina that are known even to far from every local resident. One of these is the observatory of Felix Aguilar, which will be discussed later in the article.
General information
The Felix Aguilar Astronomical Observatory is located in the El Leóncito National Park in the west of the province of San Juan . It was built and opened more than 50 years ago, in 1965, and named after the greatest Argentine astronomer and engineer F. Aguilar, who for 11 years was the director of the La Plata Observatory in Buenos Aires . He made a significant contribution to the development of the science of celestial bodies.
What is interesting about the observatory?
The need for the discovery of a new observatory arose in the 1950s, when research was begun in California on the structure of the Milky Way by determining the precise positions and visible motions of the stars. Thanks to the financial support of the National Science Foundation, in 1965-1974, the first studies of the southern sky were carried out.
The main telescope of the observatory Felix Aguilar consists of 2 lenses, each of which in diameter reaches more than 50 cm. At night and in clear weather through this unique device you can see not only the moon, but all the planets of the solar system, star clusters, e.
An excursion to the observatory begins in the evening, after sunset. All science lovers and explorers of the starry sky can not only see with their own eyes numerous heavenly bodies, but they also have the opportunity to hear detailed information about the constellations and signs of the zodiac. Upon completion of the tour, visitors purchase souvenirs in the form of photographs, pamphlets, magnets, etc.
How to get there?
You can get to the astronomical observatory named after Felix Aguilar through the National Park of El Leoncito, which is located about 30 km from the town of Barreal. You can get there by bus from San Juan (the distance between the towns is about 210 km), then continuing the journey by taxi or by renting a car .