[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#153772″ min_height=”454.9px” custom_margin=”||18px|||” custom_padding=”30px||0px|||” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”85.7px” custom_margin=”|auto|-10px|auto||” custom_padding=”||0px|||” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_orientation=”justified” custom_padding=”||35px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” content__hover_enabled=”off|desktop” content__hover=”<\/p>\n
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Rain didn\u2019t stop us. Hundreds of visitors flooded the ESO-ALMA facilities on Chilean Astronomy Day 2026,<\/strong> turning what could have been a quiet Friday into one of our most vibrant outreach events of the year.<\/p>\n From the moment doors opened, attendees dove into a packed program designed to make cutting-edge astronomy tangible. Guided tours of the ALMA Remote Control Room and a live feed from ESO\u2019s Paranal Observatory pulled back the curtain on daily operations.<\/strong> Solar observation sessions\u2014led by AUI\/NRAO volunteers\u2014added an element of suspense to the day. With cloudy skies forcing a last-minute pivot to an alternative plan, patience paid off: gaps in the clouds gave some lucky visitors a rare, direct glimpse of the sun through the telescopes. Informational booths and hands-on workshops\u2014from comet building to telescope assembly\u2014kept curiosity running high across every age group.<\/p>\n The talks were equally compelling, covering light pollution, the role of women in astronomy, the Stax3plorer<\/strong> student project, and a forward-looking presentation on ESO\u2019s ELT and ALMA 2030.<\/strong> An inflatable planetarium, a meteorite exhibition, and dedicated activity zones for children ensured families had plenty to explore throughout the afternoon.<\/p>\n As the rain intensified, outdoor activities wrapped up early, and the planned astro-concert had to be cancelled. The event closed instead with the talks, ending the day on a thoughtful note\u2014with the public putting their questions directly to our astronomers in open-mic sessions that proved the weather couldn\u2019t dampen the enthusiasm.<\/p>\n More than a showcase, the Open House was a reminder of why outreach matters.<\/strong> Every booth, workshop, and tour reflected the expertise and dedication of our teams\u2014and their ability to make complex science genuinely accessible. The event deepened our ties with the community and reaffirmed ALMA\u2019s role as a leader in science communication.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”7649,7650,7651,7652,7653,7654,7655,7656,7657,7658,7659,7660,7661,7662,7663,7664,7665,7666,7667,7668,7669,7670,7671,7672,7673,7674,7675,7676,7677,7678,7682,7683,7684,7685,7686,7687,7688,7689,7690,7691,7692,7693,7694,7695,7696,7697,7698,7699,7700,7701,7702,7703,7704,7705,7706,7707,7708,7709,7710,7711,7712,7713,7714,7715,7716,7717,7718,7644″ posts_number=”8″ _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n Rain didn\u2019t stop us. Hundreds of visitors flooded the ESO-ALMA facilities on Chilean Astronomy Day 2026, turning what could have been a quiet Friday into one of our most vibrant outreach events of the year. From the moment doors opened, attendees dove into a packed program designed to make cutting-edge astronomy tangible. Guided tours of […]<\/p>\n