The largest stellar observatory of the northern hemisphere is located in the Canaries

FMHOY - Fuerteventura

The Canary Islands are a paradise for terrestrial and marine nature, for those who search for calm and a retreat, sports, gastronomy or culture...

But that isn’t all of it! The Canaries are also a centre of interest for sky observation lovers. More and more tourists who travel to the islands of La Palma and Tenerife are attracted by their sky and stars. Indeed, those islands possess telescopes and instruments from around 60 institutions, that come from more than 20 countries worldwide. This is the greatest collection of astrophysics installations within the European Union, that are part of the Canary Islands Observatories (OCAN).

The Observatory of Roque de los Muchachos (ORM)

in La

Palma

The access road to it is a sight even before getting there. This observatory is a worldwide reference and is located at 2 396 metres of altitude, on the boundaries of the National Park of La Caldera de Taburiente. The route to the observatory is full of contrasts. A wooded track then leads to arid and volcanic landscapes that get covered in mist and fog at nightfall. Once it disappears, light appears, and we start seeing celestial bodies, sprinkled on the dark blanket of the night. A fabulous act of nature.

The ORM contains one of the most complete sets of telescopes in the world. Indeed, the largest optical and infrared telescope is located at this site, as well as other telescopes and instruments that are essential for nocturnal observation, robotics, solar physics, astrophysics of high energies and the largest telescope of the Canaries. Discoveries were also made in this observatory, such as the confirmation of the existence of black holes and the accelerated expansion of the Universe. This is why this observatory is a reference in the northern hemisphere. for the observation of stars. The Canaries are located close to the equator and are exempt from tropical storms. The sky is clear 90% of the nights, thanks to the trade winds and the thermal inversion, that prevent

Locations that are emblematic, magical, unknown and mysterious hidden places. The Canary Islands are a paradise waiting to be discovered, an archipelago of legends, protected spaces, volcanic areas, crystal clear waters and archaeological sites. A journey of extraordinary sites, on earth, at sea … and in the sky.

The Observatory of Teide in Tenerife Astrophysics in the Canary Islands started in the sixties, in Tenerife. The first telescope started being used, in 1964 and was destined for the study of zodiacal light. This observatory was reserved for the study of the Sun because of its location, and the brightness of the sky. This site contains the best solar telescopes in Europe, such as the GREGOR. This is the observatory where helioseismology was created, in 1979, a technique that enables the interior of the sun to be discovered, through its vibrations.

An ideal site for observation

There are many reasons why this is the perfect site the creation of clouds. The islands enjoy clear skies and the scarce amount of urbanisation mean that it is a perfect location for observation. Furthermore, light, radio-electric and atmospheric pollution are controlled thanks to the Law on Protection of Astronomical Quality from the Observatories of the Canarian Astrophysics Institute. The aerial routes are also controlled to ensure the observation of the celestial vault.

The skies in the Canaries are considered some of the best on the planet for the observation of stars. They are, undoubtedly, the largest set of telescopes in the northern hemisphere for the observation of the wonders hidden in the magical nightsky.