If you own a telescope and aren’t familiar with its full potential, this is the perfect opportunity for experts like Miguel Ángel Norzagaray, a member of the organizing committee and a science communicator for the MIRA Astronomical Society, to share their knowledge, and it’s free!
A common problem for new telescope owners is the technical complexity of assembling and operating these devices correctly.
A lack of knowledge about lens alignment, tripod handling, and locating celestial bodies often leads to these devices being stored indefinitely in their boxes, wasting their educational and scientific potential.
Given this situation, specialized guidance is needed to help people transform a decorative object into a functional tool for space exploration. To address this need and foster interest in science within the La Paz community, the MIRA Astronomical Society has organized a public day of instruction and observation.
Miguel Ángel explained the relevance of holding this event in the first weeks of the year, highlighting the organization’s commitment to those citizens who own a telescope but lack the technical experience to use it properly.
The activity is scheduled for Friday, January 23, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The meeting point will be the esplanade next to the statue known as “The Old Man and the Sea,” located at the intersection of Paseo Álvaro Obregón and Rosales Street in the city of La Paz.
This location was strategically chosen for its accessibility and because it’s a regular meeting point for the outreach activities the group conducts periodically. The main objective is to offer personalized, technical guidance, covering everything from basic concepts to the mechanical details that often confuse beginners.
We always set up on the boardwalk, invite people to bring their telescopes, help them assemble them if needed, and explain how to use them.
During the event, attendees can bring their own instruments, regardless of brand or model, to receive step-by-step instructions on assembly and calibration.
Experts from the MIRA Astronomical Society will explain the importance of fundamental physical variables in optics, such as tube diameter and light gathering, which determine image quality more than magnification, a concept often misunderstood by the public due to marketing.
In addition to technical instruction, the event will serve as a public observation platform, where professional equipment owned by the society will be available for attendees who do not have their own telescope but wish to enjoy the night sky. The idea is to popularize science. Basically, science communication is what matters most to us said Miguel Norzagaray, member of the organizing committee and science communicator for Grupo Mira.
This initiative is not an isolated effort but rather part of a long-standing outreach program that the MIRA Astronomical Society has maintained since 2009. The motivation behind these volunteer efforts lies in the desire to share accumulated knowledge and inspire scientific vocations among the next generation of South Baja Californians.
“We like to share what we know, and we’re very passionate about it… I’ve loved astronomy all my life, so I like to share how much I love it,” said Miguel Angel.
For Friday’s event, organizers have issued important logistical recommendations to ensure the comfort of attendees. Since the activity takes place outdoors along the coast, attendees are advised to dress warmly, as temperatures tend to drop considerably at night during this time of year. It is also reiterated that the event is completely free and family friendly.
