The Park of the Stars: a journey to discover the history of the universe

In the province of Bologna, in the town of Loiano, there is an interesting astronomical park.

The whole area, known as "Parco Delle Stelle", is managed by the INAF - Bologna Observatory of Astrophysics and Space Science. A unique place where you can closely observe the wonderful spectacle of the stars and the space that surrounds us.

The Parco delle Stelle is open to all visitors, from curious young people to astrology enthusiasts. It is possible to enter and observe the telescopes and the planetarium without reservation, respecting the opening hours of the structure.

The official website of the INAF contains all the information about the visits and informs the visitors about the latest news. More than once, the park has hosted "night appointments", visits organized in the evening to get a clearer view of the stars.

The Cassini Telescope and the Zeiss Telescope

Currently, the Parco delle Stelle takes advantage of the presence of two different telescopes: the Cassini telescope and the Zeiss telescope.

In the Observatory there is the gigantic historical Zeiss telescope with a lens of 60 cm in diameter.

The machine dates back to 1936 and is an example of the care and attention that the Observatory pays to its instruments. It is often used for guided tours and education, as the Parco delle Stelle is visited by various school groups.

The Cassini telescope, on the other hand, is much more modern and larger. Its primary mirror has a diameter of 152 cm and it was inaugurated in 1976.

This particular telescope is used for research and cannot be visited directly.

The Planetarium

Not far from the Zeiss telescope, also in the area dedicated to education, is the Observatory's beautiful planetarium. This dome, which has a diameter of over 6 meters, is used to project the night sky, at least as it should look without the presence of street lights.

Since its inauguration in 2015, the planetarium has been one of the most popular attractions for the public.

The hall has a capacity of about 30 people, who have the opportunity to sit and admire the spectacle of the sky and the stars at close range.

Modern technology allows us to observe not only the stars but also black holes and galaxies moving around the Earth; a unique experience that will bring you joy and amazement.

The Cosmic Calendar

Continuing past the planetarium, we come to the area dedicated to the Cosmic Calendar. The American popularizer Carl Sagan was the first to invent the Cosmic Calendar to help people travel through the history of the universe.

In this very special calendar, every second corresponds to 444 Earth years, reaching the definition of a month that can last up to a billion years.

The solar system

The visit to Parco delle Stelle ends with a close look at the "Model of the Solar System".

The aim of the model - built to scale - is to help visitors understand the size of our solar system and how far away we are from the other planets and the Sun.

The journey through the solar system is described by the addition of interesting panels that give some more information about our planet and all the others. A pleasant journey to discover the universe and its peculiarities.