Why Tenerife is the best location for astronomy

The transparency of the sky, the quality of the air and a strategic geographical position close to the Tropic of Cancer make Tenerife one of the most suitable places in the world for astronomical observation. This is the testimony of many tourists who are passionate about astronomy, such as expert scientists, who have found the ideal place to admire the celestial vault on the peaks of Tenerife. There will be a reason why in the Teide National Park there is the Observatory and the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, which boasts the collaboration of 19 countries and is equipped with the latest technologies for the optimal study of the sky. The observatories are located at 2,400 meters above sea level, where the unique sea of clouds creates a natural layer that protects them from the light pollution of the coast and the atmosphere is clean and calm, so that a large number of of hours useful for observation. The possibility of obtaining impressive images through star photography and night time-lapse are a great attraction of the peaks of Tenerife, both for professional photographers and for those who practice photography as a hobby. The Geminids meteor shower, which occurs in December, is one of the most anticipated moments for astronomy enthusiasts in Tenerife, as Las Cañadas del Teide is one of the best spots in the world to enjoy it from. Some of the most prominent observation points within the National Park are Chipeque, El Portillo, Ucanca and Izaña.

Law of the Canary Sky

In Tenerife there is a Law on the Protection of the Astronomical Quality of Observers, also known as the “Law of the Canary Sky”, which regulates the levels of light, atmospheric and radioelectric pollution, as well as air routes. The Teide National Park and its peaks have obtained the “Starlight” certification as a Tourist Destination and as a Reserve. This initiative boasts the support of international organizations such as UNESCO or the International Astronomical Union. In this way, the Teide is the first place declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and at the same time called the “Starlight Tourist Destination”. Astronomical studies have always had a close relationship with Mount Teide. Natural scientists and astronomers of past centuries already knew its advantages as an observation point for the study of the cosmos, as early as the mid 19th century when Piazzi Smyth installed an observatory for a period of three months at 3,300 meters above sea level. altitude, taking advantage of the exceptional possibilities offered by the sky of Las Cañadas. In recognition of his work, lunar sites were baptized with the names of Teide and Tenerife. The astronomical tradition continued in the early twentieth century, with the studies of comet Halley made by the French astronomer Jean Mascart in 1910 on the peaks of Guajara, at 2,718 meters.