Whether you’re a keen amateur astronomer, a curious explorer of the skies, or simply looking for an experience that combines culture, science and wonder, this festival is designed for you. We have put together a rich and varied programme, designed to appeal to all ages and all levels of knowledge, because astronomy is, first and foremost, an adventure for the eyes and the mind.
The central theme of this edition is exploring the invisible: what we cannot see but which fills the cosmos, the forces that shape it, and the technologies that enable us to observe it. A journey that begins with gravitational lenses, delves into the mysteries of dark matter, draws closer to our star, the Sun, and concludes with the sheer fun of water rockets and fulldome projections.
Friday 9 October, 9.00 pm | Opening lecture
“Gravitational lenses: cosmic telescopes for exploring the dark sides of the Universe“
Speaker: Dr Pietro Bergamini (INAF – founder of the S.A.D.R. Amateur Astronomers’ Group in Bondeno)
A journey to discover how gravity distorts space-time, transforming distant galaxies into gigantic “lenses” that allow us to see what would otherwise remain hidden.
Saturday 10 October, 9.00 pm | Scientific lecture
“The 95% we cannot see: The greatest enigma of modern physics”
Speaker: Dr Sandro Bardelli (INAF – Bologna Observatory).
A journey into the mysteries of matter and dark energy, to discover what makes up the majority of the cosmos but still eludes our view.
Sunday 11 October
10.00 am | Conference
Portraits of our star: “Beyond the Light: The Secrets of Our Star”
Speaker: Carlo Casoli.
An in-depth look at the star that gives us life, brought to life by extraordinary photographs that reveal its secrets and beauty.
3.00 pm | An afternoon of science and stars
An afternoon of experimentation and fun for young and old alike.
5.00 pm | Theory and practice: Water rockets
Build and launch your rocket! Next up, the challenge: “Who can get closest to it?”.
Next | Fulldome show
“Space Exploration” by Giuseppe Pupillo.
An immersive experience that takes you on a journey through planets and galaxies, enveloped in the magic of the digital planetarium.
Free admission
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