From May 17th to June 8th, the Gerrei will once again transform into a privileged stage for those who wish to approach the world of astronomy with the third edition of the Gerrei Astrofest, the astronomy festival organized and financed by the National Institute of Astrophysics (Inaf), in collaboration with the Gal Sole Grano Terra (Gal Sgt) and the Union of Municipalities of Gerrei.

This year, the event becomes, in all respects, a widespread festival that will involve, during four weekends starting next Saturday, eight municipalities: San Basilio (May 17 and June 8), Sant'Andrea Frius (May 18), Silius (May 24), Villasalto (May 25), San Nicolò Gerrei (May 31), Escalaplano (June 1), Armungia (June 6), Ballao (June 7). Building on the success of past editions, which saw growing participation from the public of all ages, the program includes about 60 initiatives including public conferences, educational workshops, exhibitions, creative installations, board games, stargazing evenings and astrotrekking.

Also fundamental to the quality and success of the event are the scientific partnerships with research institutions and organizations such as the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) and the University of Cagliari, which will bring high-profile content on various highly topical physics, astrophysical and aerospace topics.

Conceived and created in 2022 on an experimental basis by the astrophysicist of the INAF of Cagliari Silvia Casu, the Gerrei Astrofest has grown steadily: «We have been working on this event for many years now to connect the Sardinia Radio Telescope to a territory, the Gerrei, rich in unspoiled nature and peculiar sites, as well as a great hospitality capacity that deserves to grow – explains Casu -. We have only added a piece, the radio telescope, certainly important, but part of a larger ecosystem that preceded it, that accompanies it and that will exist even after it».

The central role will be played by the large INAF radio telescope built in San Basilio, in the Pranusanguni plain. The festival will start from Santu Asili 'e monti (San Basilio in Sardinian) in whose urban center the inauguration is scheduled for Saturday 17 May starting at 5 pm with institutional greetings from the mayor and president of the Union of Municipalities of Gerrei Albino Porru, Antonino Arba and Silvia Doneddu, respectively president and director of Gal Sgt, the director of INAF of Cagliari Federica Govoni, the head of operations of the Sardinia Radio Telescope Sergio Poppi and the scientific director of the festival Silvia Casu.

The Gerrei Astrofest is not only a festival dedicated to the fascinating world of astronomy, but also a precious opportunity to enhance the territory, promoting its landscape, historical and cultural beauties: «We are very happy that after the first editions held only in San Basilio, now the entire Gerrei area is involved. These are very important initiatives that make the territory grow and allow those who come from outside to get to know our places» declares Porru. « The important collaboration that is born around the Gerrei Astrofest – underlines the president Arba - intersects with the private and public reception and hospitality projects that the Gal Sgt has financed in the territory, but even more with the objectives promoted by the System Actions “Naturally PerSI Paths, Paths and Itineraries in the Gal Sgt” that unite with a common thread our material and immaterial heritage».

San Basilio will also host the final day of June 8th with a thematic astrotrekking on the Solar System that will start at dawn from the city center and will reach the Sardinia Radio Telescope after a walk of about three hours.

In between, spread over four weekends, a series of sixty activities among which two particular typologies stand out. First of all, the most eagerly awaited events by the public: observations of the night sky with telescopes. To guarantee them, the amateur astronomers of the historic Sardinian Amateur Astronomers Association and those of the Sardinia Astronomical Photography Group are also participating this year. Then there will be gaming with some great new features from the Inaf gaming work groups and with the playful proposals of La Tana del Goblin of Cagliari, an association specialized in role-playing and board games. And then exhibitions on Srt, educational workshops for all ages, thematic conferences and much more, always accompanied by the hospitality guaranteed by the many Pro Loco and committees of the participating towns where you can book lunches and dinners between events.

(Online Union)

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