On 5th December a very special walk was inaugurated on the island of La Palma, the "Paseo de las Estrellas de la Ciencia", or Promenade of Stars of Science in La Palma. Located in the Avenida Marítima of the island's capital, it is the only promenade of its kind in the world. Given that the island has a remarkable history linked to astronomy and astrophysics, such as the existence of the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory or a proven track record in astro-tourism, this walk acknowledges the figure and work of famous scientists, mainly astronomers. It also highlights the undeniable link of the island with the study of the universe and the conservation of its sky as a heritage. No wonder, La Palma is a UNESCO Reserve. The Promenade of Stars of Science is an original idea of Anselmo Pestana, the President of the Island Council back in 2015, when the project started. The Cabildo Insular de la Palma, the Santa Cruz Town Hall and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias are participating in the project. Unfortunately, the Prominade has taken 5 years to be carried out as first, the remodelling of the beach had to be completed. The event held this December 2020 has revealed the Stars that currently make up the "Paseo de la Ciencia". The four scientists awarded have personal and professional links with the island, hence, have been the first ones to be acknowledged. Stephen Hawking The first star is by Stephen Hawking, a renowned physicist and cosmologist linked to the Starmuss Festival held on La Palma and who was last on the island in 2016, shortly before his death. Hawking, who was the first to receive his star in 2016, is the author of many of the discoveries in modern astrophysics, such as the new
On 5th December a very special walk was inaugurated on the island of La Palma, the “Paseo de las Estrellas de la Ciencia“, or Promenade of Stars of Science in La Palma. Located in the
Here is the video of the virtual visit to the Gran Telescopio de Canarias at the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory (La Palma, Canary Islands). This is the largest telescope on Earth situated at the mountain top of the island. The virtual visit has been recorded on the occasion of the AstroFest La Palma 2020 as part of the Astrotourism, Astronomy and Tourism Webinars organised by the Island Council of La Palma. If you cannot come to La Palma to see the telescope in sittu or, while the visits to the Observatory are suspended due to the covid19, you can make the visit virtually in the video (language: Spanish). The video explains what the telescope does, how it works and what the real post-covid visits will be like. Visits to the Observatory at Roque de Los Muchachos will resume in 2021. Information & bookings here. LaPalmaStars.com Team visiting The Gran Telescopio de Canarias Visit to the Gran Telescopio de Canarias, Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma
Here is the video of the virtual visit to the Gran Telescopio de Canarias at the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory (La Palma, Canary Islands). This is the largest telescope on Earth situated at the
Road Access to the Observatory in La Palma If you want to get the Observatory Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the Canary Island of La Palma for a visit or just to enjoy the fantastic views, here we explain how to get to the Observatory. There is only an access road, the LP4 road, that goes from Santa Cruz de La Palma to the municipality of Garafía. This road is a mountain road as the Observatory is virtually on the highest point of the island, at an altitude of 2400m. From Santa Cruz on the LP4, there are 36 km of road of sinuous curves. However, the road is beautiful and offers spectacular views, but since it is a mountain road, you have to climb slowly and carefully. It usually takes between 1:15h to 1:30h to get up with a few minutes to rest and to take pictures. The access by Garafía has a shorter patch on the lp4 road, but first you have to get to Garafía, on the north of the island via the LP1 road. From Los Llanos de Aridane to the Observatory, on the west of the island, it takes about 1:30h without traffic and, from Santa Cruz de La Palma, by the LP1 to Garafía and then to the Observatory (12 kms on the LP4) it takes approximately 2 hours (on the east of the island). Also the road is very beautiful. We recommend to access the Observatory via Lp4 road from Santa Cruz and then leave the observatory via Lp4-Garafía-Lp1 to Los Llanos or to Barlovento. Once in the Observatory you may access the Roque de Los Muchachos summet (inside the National Park). This last stretch of road is open during the day. At night, the road is closed to the public. If interested
Road Access to the Observatory in La Palma If you want to get the Observatory Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the Canary Island of La Palma for a visit or just to enjoy the fantastic
Light pollution is defined as the introduction of artificial light to an ecosystem (into naturally dark situations), degrading its natural state with the emission of light of different intensities, directions, spectral range and/or unnecessarily varying a light/dark schedule (ie. having lights on a empty office building or streets lights on after certain times). It is obvious that humans need and use artificial light during the night just...well...simply to live. But the use of artificial light should be in equilibrium with the nocturnal life, energy efficiency and health (avoiding the alteration of sleep patterns and the effect of artificial light at night on some cancers). We should try to minimize the impact of light pollution reducing the negative effects by designing better street lighting, scheduling of street lights, etc. Light pollution increases the background brightness of the sky by reflecting and diffusion artificial light into the gases and particles in the air. This results in a reduction of visibility of the stars and other celestial objects. The Sky Law in the Canary Islands (1989) controls gas emissions to the atmosphere on the island, as well as light pollution and air communications routes. The aim of the law is to have transparent and dark sky, with good (if not outstanding) quality for both amateur and professional astronomy.
Light pollution is defined as the introduction of artificial light to an ecosystem (into naturally dark situations), degrading its natural state with the emission of light of different intensities, directions, spectral range and/or unnecessarily varying
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