Talk "Variable Stars: Their History"
10 December 2026 · 19:00
Centre Cívic Guinardó, el Guinardó, Horta-Guinardó
Led by Ricard Martínez, former president of Àster, Agrupació Astronòmica de Barcelona. When we look at the sky, we notice that some stars do not always shine with the same intensity. We call them “variable stars”. This variability can have different causes, and each has helped us better understand the universe we live in. In some cases their brightness varies in cycles that repeat like clockwork; in others, their brightness increases spectacularly before they eventually disappear for good. In this talk we will explain the basic concepts related to this variability from a historical perspective. We will review the main discoveries concerning variable stars, highlighting the professional and amateur astronomers who contributed their findings and how and when they made them. This talk will take place in the Sala d'Actes at Centre Cívic Guinardó and is intended exclusively for adults or people over sixteen who are accompanied.
Part of the programme: 'Xerrades d'astronomia' Series. Cicle 'Xerrades d'astronomia: 3 activities in Barcelona, from October 8 to December 10. All free.
Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona · checked on 8 September 2026