El Observatorio Astronómico Nacional, la joya oculta de Madrid
David Barrado y Navascués
Hace años, muchos, que no venía por aquí. Entonces, siendo adolescente, quería ser astrónomo, y mis ensoñaciones se mezclaban con mis dudas. Veinticinco años después es la sorpresa la que domina mis pensamientos: en verdad, el Observatorio Astronómico Nacional es una de las joyas ocultas de Madrid.
Se encuentra en una zona privilegiada, en las proximidades del histórico parque de El Retiro. Localizado sobre un altozano, apenas es visible desde las inmediaciones debido a pésimas políticas urbanísticas que han permitido el levantamiento de mediocres edificios (aun recientemente) en las inmediaciones. Sin embargo, desde el interior del pequeño parque que alberga la institución la visión es bien distinta. Domina el bellísimo y simple edificio neoclásico planeado por Juan de Villanueva, artífice, entre otros muchos, del Museo de El Prado.
El antiguo edificio del observatorio (foto DByN).
Pertenece el observatorio a una serie de iniciativas cuya concepción radica en el reinado de Carlos III, a mitad del siglo de las luces (XVIII). Desafortunadamente para nuestro país y para Hispanoamérica, la mayor parte de estos proyectos fueron olvidados, no se llevaron a cabo o se completaron mucho más tarde, como es el caso que nos ocupa .
Telescopio de W. Herschel construido para el OAN. En la actualidad, existe una reproducción a tamaño real.
En cualquier caso, la colección de instrumentación astronómica es verdaderamente impresionante: astrolabios, meridianos, refractores (algunos construidos por el gran William Herschel por encargo del observatorio a finales del XVIII), por citar unos pocos. Y como reyes de este universo, un péndulo de Focault y una maravillosa reproducción de un gigantesco telescopio de espejo construido por aquel reputado astrónomo.
Un pequeño telescopio de lentes construido por William Herschel por encargo del observatorio, junto con un pédulo de Focault (foto DByN).
Sin lugar a dudas, un entorno privilegiado. Para trabajar y para visitar. Esperemos que recupere su puesto en el Madrid ilustrado, y la visibilidad perdida por tanta políticas erróneas.
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