The astronomical observatory in the Visitor Centre in El Torcal, Antequera, is set to open to the public either at the end of this year or the beginning of 2011 according to the provincial delegate for Environment, Remedios Martel.
The Visitor Centre, built at a cost of €3 million, was inaugurated in 2009 and comprised a gift shop, an audiovisual projection room and a temporary exhibition hall, the observatory not having been completed at this stage.
The telescope is installed and the software is now being tested to move the dome and transmit the images to the main visitor area. The telescope will be operational day and night, and with special filters it will be possible to observe the sun.
The room housing the telescope will only hold around 8 people so the signal will be transmitted to the projection room to allow more people to see the direct observations.