Inspiration Jesús Huarte
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La Palma: stellar destination

One of the best places for stargazing in the whole world, La Palma offers excellent visibility conditions. Antonio Cabrera, head of science operations of the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM) in La Palma, recommends the best spots for observing the island’s skies.

  1. 1 Above 2,000m and with good visibility:

    • Pico Cruz South, in San Andrés and Sauces
    • Mirador del Salto and Monumento al Infinito at LP-4, 28.5 km

     

  2. 2 Above 1,300m

    • Llano del Jable Astronomical Viewpoint in El Paso
    • Llano de las Ventas Astronomical Viewpoint in Breña Baja

     

  3. 3 Above 700m

    • Visitor Centre National Park at the La Caldera de Taburiente National Park in El Paso
    • Parking at the Cueva de las Palomas Centre in Las Manchas
    • Mendo Astronomical Viewpoint in El Paso

     

  4. 4 Above 400m

    • Mirador de la Muralla, en Tijarafe
    • Volcán de San Antonio, en Fuencaliente

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  5. 5 At sea level

    • Fuencaliente Salt Flats
    • Yellow Mountain in La Salamera

  6. 6 In May and June, you will be able to see in the island’s skies, especially during the early hours of the night until midnight:

    • Omega Centauri – the largest globular star cluster – at observatories with a clear southern horizon.
    • Gacrux, the upper star of the Southern Cross, very much on the horizon, from Teneguía or the Salt Flats.
    • The galaxies of Ursa Major: M81, M82, M51, M101, etc.
    • The Leo and Virgo galaxy clusters
    • Other large globular clusters such as M13, M3, M5 and M92
    • Mars in the constellation of Gemini
    • The Beehive Cluster (Cancer)
    • Vega and its M57 planetary nebula
    • In the early morning, Sagittarius and the Milky Way at a good height

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