Dal 17 maggio all’8 giugno, il Gerrei si trasformerà ancora una volta in un palcoscenico privilegiato per chi desidera avvicinarsi al mondo dell’astronomia con la terza edizione del Gerrei Astrofest, il festival di astronomia organizzato e finanziato dall’Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (Inaf), in collaborazione con il Gal Sole Grano Terra (Gal Sgt) e l’Unione dei Comuni del Gerrei.
eight Sant’Andrea Frius municipality: San Basilio (17 May and 8 June), Sant’Andrea Frius (May 18), Villasalto (25 May), Villasalto (25 May), Escalaplano (1 June), Escalaplano (1 June), Ballao (7 June). Ballao (7 June). Thanks to the participation of people of all ages, the program includes approximately 60 initiatives including public observations, star-gazing evenings, and astrotrekking. circa 60 initiatives including public lectures, educational workshops, exhibitions, creative installations, board games, stargazing nights, and astrotrekking.
Fundamental to the quality and success of the event are the contributions from the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (Infn), the University of Cagliari, and the National Institute for Astrophysics (Inaf), which will bring high-profile content on various current physical and astrophysical topics.
Conceived and realized in 2022 as an experimental project by Inaf astrophysicist Silvia Casu from Cagliari, the festival aims to connect the Sardinia Radio Telescope with the Gerrei region, rich in unspoiled nature and unique sites, as well as a great capacity for hospitality. “We have only added to this ecosystem, which existed before us, accompanies us, and will continue to exist after us,” explains Casu.
The central role will indeed be played by the large radio telescope of Inaf built in San Basilio, in the Pranusanguni plain. The festival will start right from Santu Asili ‘e monti (San Basilio in Sardinian) where the inauguration is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, starting at 5 PM with the 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 Cagliari Federica Govoni, the operations manager of the Sardinia Radio Telescope Sergio Poppi, and the scientific director of the festival Silvia Casu.
The third edition of the Gerrei Astrofest is not just a festival of the fascinating world of astronomy, but also a valuable opportunity to promote the region, showcasing its scenic, historical, and cultural beauty. “We are delighted that the entire Gerrei area is involved this year. These are very important initiatives that help the region grow and allow visitors to discover our places,” said Porru. “These important initiatives that grow the region and allow visitors to discover our places,” says Albino Porru. “The significant collaboration that arises around these events aligns with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, and even more so with the projects of private and public hospitality that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more so with the projects of private and public hospitality that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that Gal Sgt has funded in the area, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects of the Gal Sgt in the territory, but even more with the private and public hospitality projects that the Gal Sgt has funded in the area.”
San Basilio will also host the final day on June 8 with a thematic astrotrekking on the Sardinia Radio Telescope that will take place after a walk of about three hours.
In between, spread over four weekends starting next Saturday, there will be numerous activities, including the most anticipated by the public: night sky observations with telescopes. To ensure these, the historic Sardinian Amateur Astronomers Association will participate again this year, along with the Astronomical Photography Group of Sardinia. There will also be gaming activities organized by the Inaf gaming workgroups and the playful proposals from La Tana del Goblin of Cagliari, always accompanied by the warm hospitality guaranteed by the many Pro Loco and committees of the participating villages, where visitors can enjoy lunches and dinners.
The complete program is available at https://sites.google.com/inaf.it/gerrei-astrofest-2025/