Category: News

Learning Landscape Astrophotography in La Palma: AstroLaPalma at AstroFest 2026 Would you like to learn how to photograph the stars, the Milky Way, or the spectacular night landscapes of La Palma? Landscape astrophotography allows us to capture the beauty of the night sky together with the natural scenery beneath it. However, creating a great image requires more than simply pointing a camera towards the stars. To introduce this fascinating discipline to beginners, Ana García, PhD in Astrophysics and founder of AstroLaPalma, led an introductory landscape astrophotography workshop as part of AstroFest La Palma 2026. The workshop took place on 8 October at the Museo Casa Roja in Villa de Mazo, combining a theoretical introduction with an outdoor practical session. Please note: AstroLaPalma's astronomy workshops and training courses are conducted in Spanish. A Workshop to Learn How to Photograph the Night Sky and Landscapes Landscape astrophotography combines photography skills, astronomy knowledge, and careful planning. It is not just about learning how to use a camera, but also about understanding what we are photographing and how sky conditions change throughout the night. The workshop began with an introduction entitled "What Can We Photograph in the Sky? Preparing Our Equipment", covering the fundamentals of night photography and the equipment needed to get started. The activity was aimed at astrotourism guides, amateur photographers, beginners, and anyone interested in exploring this fascinating field. The programme also included an outdoor practical session, an essential opportunity to become familiar with the equipment and put the knowledge acquired into practice. What Equipment Do You Need to Get Started in Landscape Astrophotography? One of the first questions people ask when they want to photograph the stars is what equipment they need. Although some cameras and lenses are specifically designed for astrophotography, professional equipment is not always necessary to get

Learning to Use a Telescope: AstroLaPalma at AstroFest La Palma 2026 Do you have a telescope at home but are not quite sure how to use it? Are you thinking about buying one but don't know where to start? These are common questions among people who are curious about astronomy and want to explore the night sky for the first time. To make astronomy more accessible to everyone, Ana García, PhD and founder of AstroLaPalma, led an introductory telescope workshop as part of AstroFest La Palma 2026. The workshop took place on 25 September at the Casa de la Cultura in Puntallana, bringing together around twenty participants interested in learning how to use telescopes and developing their astronomy knowledge. Please note: AstroLaPalma's astronomy workshops and training courses are conducted in Spanish. A Hands-On Workshop to Learn How to Use a Telescope The workshop began with an introduction to the different types of telescopes, how they work, and the main features to consider before buying one. Not all telescopes are the same, and they are not necessarily designed for the same purposes. Understanding their differences is one of the first steps towards getting started in observational astronomy. During the workshop, participants explored essential topics for beginners, from understanding how telescopes work to the practical aspects of assembling and operating them. The activity was designed both for people who already owned a telescope and for those who simply wanted to learn more about astronomy. The Weather Changed Our Plans, but Not the Learning Experience The original programme included an outdoor stargazing session outside the Casa de la Cultura in Puntallana. However, weather conditions made this impossible. Rather than cancelling the practical part of the workshop, the session moved indoors, where several telescopes were assembled, including equipment provided for the workshop and telescopes

Ana Castañeda: A Lifetime Dedicated to Astrotourism in La Palma The history of astrotourism in La Palma is the story of people who believed that our island's night sky could become much more than a scientific and natural resource. It could also offer an opportunity to share scientific knowledge, create jobs and develop a different kind of tourism. And one name stands out in that story: Ana Castañeda. For many years, through her work in the Tourism Department of the La Palma Island Council (Cabildo de La Palma), Ana was one of the driving forces behind a project that has become part of our island's tourism identity. But those of us who had the privilege of working with her know that her contribution went far beyond her professional responsibilities. How Astrotourism Began in La Palma La Palma has a long astronomical tradition. The inauguration of the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in 1985, the introduction of the Sky Law in 1988 and the International Starlight Conference in 2007 were important milestones in recognising and protecting one of our island's most valuable resources: the quality of its night sky. However, having one of the best skies in the world did not automatically mean having a tourism industry built around astronomy. That had to be created. In 2009, the Mesa del Turismo de Estrellas (Stargazing Tourism Working Group) was established. Later, the Volcanes bajo Estrellas (Volcanoes under the Stars) project helped develop astronomical viewpoints, train specialist guides and create new experiences that made astronomy accessible to the general public. The first specialist companies also emerged during those years. Astrotour, which ceased operating in 2015, was one of the pioneers. In 2012, AstroLaPalma, founded by astrophysicist Ana García, began offering astronomy outreach activities, stargazing experiences and guided visits to the Roque de los

Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander, Shares His Journey Around the Moon in La Palma It's not every day that we have the opportunity to hear first-hand what it is like to travel into space, see the Moon from a spacecraft and return to Earth after a historic mission. On Friday, 16 October 2026, we had the privilege of attending a talk at the Teatro Chico in Santa Cruz de La Palma by Reid Wiseman, NASA astronaut and commander of the Artemis II mission, as part of the international Starmus 2026 festival. The talk lasted approximately one hour and, quite frankly, left us wishing it had been much longer. Wiseman shared anecdotes about astronaut training, mission preparations and launch, the journey towards the Moon, life and teamwork aboard the Orion spacecraft, and the challenges awaiting future space exploration missions. Hearing these experiences directly from someone who had lived through them was an extraordinary opportunity for those of us who are passionate about astronomy and exploring the Universe. Artemis II: Humanity Returns to the Moon's Neighbourhood The Artemis II mission, developed by NASA with the participation of the Canadian Space Agency, marked a milestone in space exploration: the first crewed journey around the Moon since the Apollo programme, more than half a century earlier. The Orion spacecraft launched on 1 April 2026 aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Over approximately nine days, four astronauts travelled around the Moon before returning to Earth on 10 April. The crew consisted of: Reid Wiseman, Mission Commander, NASA. Victor Glover, Pilot, NASA. Christina Koch, Mission Specialist, NASA. Jeremy Hansen, Mission Specialist, Canadian Space Agency. Unlike the Apollo missions that landed astronauts on the lunar surface, Artemis II was not designed to land on the Moon. Its primary objective was

La Palma’s Four LST Telescopes: Inauguration and a New Window on the Universe On 15 October 2026, the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma celebrates the official inauguration of its four Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs), part of the international Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO). With their enormous 23-metre-diameter mirrors, these telescopes are designed to explore some of the most energetic and extreme phenomena in the Universe, from active black holes to powerful cosmic explosions. What Are the LST Telescopes and What Do They Observe? The LSTs (Large-Sized Telescopes) are designed for high-energy astrophysics, particularly the study of gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation. However, there is an important difference between these instruments and conventional optical telescopes: Cherenkov telescopes cannot observe cosmic gamma rays directly from the ground. The Earth's atmosphere absorbs gamma rays before they reach the surface. Instead, these telescopes detect them indirectly through a fascinating physical phenomenon known as Cherenkov radiation. When a high-energy gamma ray enters the atmosphere, it interacts with atmospheric particles, producing a cascade of secondary particles. Some of these particles travel faster than light travels through air — although never faster than light in a vacuum — generating an extremely brief flash of bluish light. This is Cherenkov radiation. The enormous mirrors of the LSTs collect these flashes, which last only a few nanoseconds. By analysing them, scientists can reconstruct the direction and energy of the original gamma rays and investigate extraordinary cosmic phenomena, including active galactic nuclei, pulsars and gamma-ray bursts. Giant Telescopes Without Domes — Built for Speed Unlike many conventional optical telescopes, the LSTs do not require protective domes. Their enormous 23-metre reflecting surfaces are exposed to the open air, and the entire structures are engineered to move remarkably quickly. They can reposition to any accessible region

  Discover the Universe with AstroLaPalma's Telescopes The telescopes we use for stargazing in La Palma are an essential part of every astronomical experience, but the quality of an observing session depends on much more than the size of the telescope. Choosing the right instrument, having excellent sky conditions and being guided by an experienced astronomy guide are equally important to discover the Universe in the greatest possible detail. At AstroLaPalma, we use a carefully selected range of Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain and large-aperture Dobsonian telescopes, chosen for their outstanding optical quality, reliability and exceptional performance under one of the best night skies on Earth. Thanks to the exceptional astronomical conditions of La Palma—home to the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) and numerous telescopes operated by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)—our guests can observe everything from lunar craters to galaxies located millions of light-years away. Our goal is not to showcase telescopes. Our goal is to help you understand the night sky. Why do we use different telescopes? There is no such thing as the perfect telescope for every situation. Some telescopes provide extraordinary contrast for observing the Moon and planets, while others excel at collecting large amounts of light, revealing nebulae, galaxies and star clusters in impressive detail. The number of participants, the astronomical objects visible that night and the type of experience also influence which telescope is the best choice. That is why AstroLaPalma uses several different telescope models, always selecting the one that best suits each experience. Do we use all our telescopes during every experience? No. And that is entirely intentional. Although we own several telescopes, it would make little sense to use every instrument during every activity. Every night is different. Weather conditions, the Moon phase, the celestial objects we

Is the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory the best place for stargazing in La Palma? It's one of the questions we are asked most often. The answer surprises many people. Is the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory really the best place for stargazing in La Palma? Yes... and no. If we are talking about astrophysical research, then the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory is undoubtedly one of the best places on Earth. It is home to world-class facilities such as the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), the MAGIC telescopes, the Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs) of the future Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), and dozens of scientific instruments operated by international research institutions. However, if we are talking about the best place for stargazing in La Palma, the answer is different. Because stargazing and professional astrophysics are not exactly the same thing. Why was the Observatory built at Roque de los Muchachos? The Observatory was not built there simply because it is one of the highest points on La Palma. Its location was chosen after many years of meteorological and astronomical studies. The island offers exceptional conditions for astrophysical research. The trade winds often create a sea of clouds at mid-altitude. Above it lies the temperature inversion layer, which separates the humid lower atmosphere from the dry, stable air found at higher elevations. As a result, the Observatory frequently remains above the clouds, enjoying exceptionally transparent and stable skies. These conditions, together with the protection provided by the Canary Islands Sky Law, extremely low light pollution and a high number of clear observing nights, make Roque de los Muchachos one of the world's leading sites for professional astronomy. But the Observatory is not always cloud-free Many people believe that the Observatory always enjoys clear skies. This is not true. Like every observatory in

The New Revolution in Astrophysics Is Not Happening Inside Telescopes When we think about major breakthroughs in astrophysics, we often imagine larger telescopes, giant mirrors, or sophisticated instruments capable of observing regions of the Universe that were beyond our reach just a few years ago. Yet one of the most significant transformations of recent decades has little to do with telescope size and everything to do with Artificial Intelligence in Astrophysics. And that may sound surprising. Anyone visiting the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory can immediately see that modern astronomical technology often looks like something out of a science fiction film. However, some of the most exciting advances are not taking place beneath telescope domes, but inside the systems designed to analyze the enormous amount of information these instruments generate every night. Over the last few decades, observatories have improved their observing capabilities so dramatically that they have created an unexpected challenge: they now produce more data than scientists can manually analyze. Every night, telescopes around the world capture images of millions of stars, galaxies, nebulae, and other celestial objects. In addition to that, researchers collect spectra, brightness measurements, atmospheric data, and observations accumulated over years or even decades. The amount of information is so vast that reviewing it image by image is simply impossible. This is where Artificial Intelligence enters the picture. Far from the popular image of robots replacing scientists, the reality is much more interesting. Artificial Intelligence has become a powerful tool for identifying hidden patterns, detecting rare phenomena, and helping researchers gain a deeper understanding of the Universe. In many fields, it is already part of everyday astrophysical research. When the Problem Is Having Too Much Data For much of scientific history, the challenge was obtaining observations that were accurate enough. Today, in many areas of

Major Discoveries at the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory From La Palma to the Universe: World-Class Science Under One of Earth's Best Skies The Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory discoveries have helped transform our understanding of the Universe and have established La Palma as one of the world's leading centres for astronomical research. Thanks to its exceptional observing conditions — protected by the renowned Sky Law, one of the most advanced regulations of its kind anywhere in the world — and to the international scientific collaborations coordinated by the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC), this observatory has contributed to groundbreaking research ranging from black holes and exoplanets to the highest-energy phenomena in the cosmos. In this article, we explore some of the most important Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory discoveries, from black holes and exoplanets to gamma-ray astronomy, and explain why this remarkable site continues to play a crucial role in international astrophysical research.   The Supermassive Black Hole at the Centre of the Milky Way During the 1980s, observations carried out with the William Herschel Telescope (WHT) in La Palma contributed to the study of the dynamics of the centre of our galaxy. The Role of the William Herschel Telescope These observations helped lay the foundations for confirming the existence of a supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way: Sagittarius A*. Understanding Sagittarius A* Today we know that this object has a mass approximately four million times greater than that of the Sun and plays a fundamental role in our understanding of galactic evolution. Research carried out with telescopes such as the WHT paved the way for later breakthroughs, including the first direct images of black holes. Gamma-Ray Astronomy: MAGIC and CTA La Palma is also one of the world's leading centres for