Sky & Telescope - December 2018 - 71

NE WS A RTICLE: AG RUPACIÓN ASTRONÓ MICA ASTER / HO JA DEL
LUNES (NOV EMBER 30, 1953); OBSERVATORY: PUBLIC DO M AIN /
SERV EI ME TEOROLÒGIC DE CATA LUNYA

senior amateurs. Despite encouraging systematic amateur
work, such as the methodical observation of variable stars,
SADEYA seemed unreceptive to the enthusiasm of young
people. This situation led to the creation of new amateur
astronomical associations in Spain during the middle decades
of the century.
The founding of such nonprofessional astronomical associations is particularly interesting, since the development of
amateur science, which was less dependent on the precepts of
ofﬁcial science, was fairly difﬁcult for the dictatorial regime
to oversee. Moreover, such initiatives can be seen as attempts
to develop new spaces for scientiﬁc sociability in response to
the new political and socioeconomic conditions of the dictatorship. The search for valuable instructional and cultural
resources provided by astronomy was combined, during these
years, with the exploration of less restricted spaces for socialization sought by young people.
A good example of one of these new societies is that of the
Astronomical Association Aster (Agrupación Astronómica
Aster), founded in Barcelona in 1948 by a group of secondary
school students. Aster eventually fostered a successful program of observational astronomy that included the study of
celestial objects such as the Moon, the Sun, planets, bolides,
comets, nebulae, stars, and star clusters. The association
even achieved some international renown in 1957,
when it became the ﬁrst in
Western Europe to record
the signal of Sputnik 1 using
only amateur techniques and
equipment (an antenna and
a homemade radio device).
Aster, however, was not
exempt from criticism, as
some thought it inappropriate that the association was
run by such young men.
Claims were made that its
founders were writing on
topics they knew little about,
and many people expected
the new society to be transformed into a party and
social club. Some individuals
ﬁled formal complaints with

,M[XQ\MMVKW]ZIOQVO[a[\MUI\QKIUI\M]Z
_WZS[]KPI[\PMUM\PWLQKITWJ[MZ^I\QWV
WN [\IZ[;),-A)[MMUML]VZMKMX\Q^M\W
\PMMV\P][QI[U[WN aW]VOXMWXTM
the authorities, denouncing the association as it was run by
minors and organized activities that allegedly encouraged
promiscuous behavior.
Certainly there was an element of fun to Aster. The group
developed a popular astronomy program that combined
lectures and courses with visits to institutional and private
observatories, outdoor talks, and excursions to tourist sites.
That there were private "after parties" with snacks, soft drinks,
and dancing is undeniable. Critics from SADEYA believed such
frivolous activities were the real goal of the group, while others, such as the Spanish popularizer of astronomy, José María
Meliá Bernabéu "Pigmalión", saw enjoyable activities such as
dancing and socializing as a hook: First give them soft drinks,
then give them scopes. Since the youth seemed to prefer
entertainment to study, Aster focused on the fun, organizing
ﬁeld trips, contests, and exhibitions in which pictures, books,
journals, and instruments were displayed.

Telescope Making
Some of the instruments shown at Aster exhibitions were
homemade telescopes, such as those made by amateur
astronomer Josep Costas Gual (1918-2011), who developed
an important program of systematic solar observations over
q PRO-AM COOPERATION Founded in 1904, Fabra Observatory was
equipped originally with a Mailhat double refractor, which consisted of a
38-cm f/15.8 visual instrument and a 38-cm f/10.5 photographic instrument. A popular destination for field trips, the observatory continues to
hold observing events in conjunction with Aster.

p ASTRONOMICAL SUCCESS This short bulletin, which ran in the
November 30, 1953, edition of the Barcelona newspaper Hoja del Lunes,
celebrates the dedication of Aster's new observatory, which boasted a
Mailhat 100-mm refractor on an equatorial mount. The telescope was
also equipped with a short-focus 33-mm camera. The dedication was
attended by representatives of the local authorities as well as members
of the public, and was presided over by Father Manuel Borda. The story
also points out the society's "selfless desire" to promote the knowledge
of astronomy to everyone regardless of social class. Aster's success in
this area was attributed to the efforts and economic contributions of its
800 members.
sk yandtelescope.com * DECE MBE R 2 018

http://www.skyandtelescope.com

Sky & Telescope - December 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky & Telescope - December 2018