First night

Students arrived at the observatory at about 6ish last night and we had an introduction from Lowry, the course director for the week. At the planetarium (photo below), which is on site, we watched a couple of short planetarium shows about space, and space travel. This was followed by a really appallingly awful show about telescopes made by americans. It was so cheesy and we've had some complaints from students about it!! It was beyond our control!!!

Then we had our first meal at the observatory - we need to get used to the unique spanish food they create there. Suffice to say I've been to the nearby supermarket to buy supplies. Drinks are in short supply at the observatory, so I've bought massive bottles of water.

It had got dark by now so we showed them how to get into and out of the domes. I had a good bunch who were all good fun. I had to make sure everyone had red light torches, so spent 20 mins sticking red cellophane over people's torches for them.

Alan gave a really excellent tour of the nights sky pointing out the constellations, and we used binoculars to see nebulae etc. We saw a really bright meteor which passed right over-head. That was great. Alan set up one of the smaller telescopes and we saw Saturn and its rings and the Orion nebula. Then the students were driven back to the hotel at 11ish. We stayed on for another hour then headed back.

I slept fine, but I need to find out who is in the room next door and ask them to be a little quieter on a morning. I slept 'til 10, but at 7.30 their alarm went off and woke me. We are working 'til 4 tomorrow morning, and we probably won't et back to the hotel 'til 6am.

I went and sat in the pool area before lunch, having bought my groceries and a newspaper.

We just had a big lunch to keep us going, and we're heading back to the observatory in 30 mins. Students won't arrive for a few hours though. Got to do a talk tonight - not looking forward to that.

Weather still hot (had sun cream on today!), but is supposed to be clouding over later unfortunately.