Guided visit to the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory, on the Pico del Buitre

The Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory (OAJ) is a research centre of the Centro de Estudios de Física del Cosmos de Aragón, recognised as a Unique Scientific and Technical Facility. It is on the Pico del Buitre, at 1,956 metres, and its main telescope has a 2.55-metre mirror with which the sky is mapped. It does not open for self-guided visits: from April to October, Galáctica takes small groups up with a guide.

From Galáctica's car park to the Pico del Buitre

You meet at Galáctica, in Arcos de las Salinas, and drive up behind the guide in your own car: the transfer is not included and without a vehicle you can't do it. At the top you enter areas closed to the public, such as the control room, and see the T250 telescope up close. The guide explains how professional astronomy is done, what the instruments are for and what is done with the data. It takes about two hours in total. Be clear about what it is not: you do not look through any telescope. For that there are the night observation and the sessions with Galáctica's large telescopes.

The price includes the museum

€40 per person, with free admission to the Galáctica museum included. The logical thing is to do it on the same day: the museum with the audio guide before or after the climb. The times for each date appear in the website calendar when you book, within the season.

Three floors without a lift

To reach the T250 you climb three flights of stairs and there is no lift. Galáctica does not recommend the visit to people with heart problems, pacemakers or reduced mobility. The minimum age is 12 and you need a group of at least four people, so if there are two or three of you, ask beforehand whether the date has other bookings. Warm clothing is compulsory, because up there it is high mountain even if it is a nice day below.

Lightning and petrol

The visit can be postponed because of the weather, especially if there is a risk of thunderstorms. Galáctica also recommends checking your fuel tank before setting out and locating the petrol stations along the route: there are few in the area and the climb is a mountain one.

From November to March

Outside the season there are no trips up to the observatory. In those months, the guided admission to the museum shows the domes and the control room of Galáctica, which give an idea of how a telescope is worked.