Astronomical Evenings: Summer Solstice

A unique experience where nature, history and the sky meet, designed for families and participants of all ages. Le Astronomical Evenings of the Carolina Ranch take you on an exciting journey between breathtaking sunsets, millenary archaeology and guided observations of the starry sky. Far from light pollution, under one of the darkest skies in Italy, we invite you to take part in an exciting journey through the wonders of the universe and the thousand-year-old secrets of the earth, guided by astrophysicist Manuel Florisscientific director of the Planetarium of l'Unione Sarda and the tour guide Lisa Mura Aguadora Experienceguardian of the stories and legends that animate this enchanted place. An evocative route from the Tomb of the Giants to the Ranch, accompanied by stories, live music, local tastings and astronomical observation with professional telescopes.

Saturday 21 June 2025

Registration form: https://forms.gle/88TsgSe1HYCtkoCt9

Carolina Ranch - Location of 'Sa corona de su Crabí

On the occasion of the Summer Solstice we have organised a special event, an encounter between sky, earth and history in collaboration with Il Planetario de L'Unione Sarda. We will witness the setting of the sun at the locality of 'Sa corona de su Crabí', an area that preserves on a rocky platform, surrounded by the green Mediterranean maquis, the megalithic monument from the Nuragic period: the Giants' tomb of 'Su niu de su crobu', the crow's nest. Near our area is also the imposing Nuragic settlement of 'Grutti é acqua' the water cave.

In front of the entrance to the Tomb of the Giants, one can admire the sunset on the longest day of the year, trying to observe the rare 'green ray', that green glow that the Sun leaves behind before plunging into the sea.

As night falls, together with astrophysicist Manuel Floris, scientific director of Il Planetario de l'Unione Sarda, we will be guided on a journey through space and time observing the constellations, listening to their myths and admiring the Milky Way; all thanks to a powerful laser that will give the illusion of touching the stars. In addition, two powerful telescopes will be used to observe difficult Mars, nebulae and distant star clusters.

Programme

• Arrival at the Ranch and registration
• Brief visit to the Ranch animals
• 1Km sunset walk to the Tomb of the Giants 'Su Niu e Su Crobu', a thousand-year-old archaeological site
• During the sunset, Manuel Floris will reveal the secrets of our star, weaving an invisible thread between sky and earth, while Lisa Mura will transport us into a world of myths and legends, recounting the history and traditions of the places we will visit
• When we are finished, violinist Giacomo Locci will play for us among the rocks of the Tomb, accompanying the Sun behind the horizon line
• Back at the Ranch, a pizza dinner awaits us or, for those who wish, a wine tasting at Cantina Giba, led by sommelier and oenogastronomer Giovanni Porta, with a box of typical products from the Salis Efisio company and bread from Panifici Calabrò
• The dinner hour will be enlivened by a live music performance by maestro Federico Dessì
• We will end the evening with astronomical observation of the night sky