Gazing at the sky full of shining stars is soothing to the eye. If you are one of those who loves to gaze at stars then Roque De Los Muchachos Observatory is a must-visit place for you.
Roque de los Muchachos is located on the top of one of the highest points in La Palma at 2,396 meters above sea level and is one of the best stargazing places in the world.
Located on the Island of La Palma in the Canary Island, Roque De Los Muchachos Observatory is the second best site to gaze stars in the northern hemisphere. It is also one of the well-equipped laboratories in the world, consisting of the largest single-aperture telescope. The Observatory is located at the highest point of La Palma, approximately 2.4 meters above sea level making it the most ideal location.
The observatory was opened in 1979 and it was at this time the massive Issac Newton telescope was moved from the Royal Greenwich Observatory in London to the top of La Palma. The telescope works both for research as well as for entertainment. The observatory was created as a multinational effort with representatives from Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and the united kingdom all sharing the space.
This place is perfect for observing the solar phenomena during the day as well as observing the sky at night. Roque De Los Muchachoa Observatory has one of the clearest skies in the world, due to its climatic conditions and physical characteristics. This place is ideal to visit all year round, thanks to the sunny weather. But if you want to visit the observatory you have to plan ahead. As the observatory is open only for a limited number of days in a year. The dates are announced by IAC every may.
La Palma is glorious both during day and night. It offers a stunning view of the caldera and the town. Being at the Roque De Los Muchachoa makes you closest to the stars you could ever be.
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