Roque de los Muchachos Observatory

The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory is an international research facility in Garafía on La Palma island, housing multiple telescopes at 2396 meters elevation on the northern rim of the Caldera de Taburiente. Among the instruments is the Gran Telescopio Canarias with a mirror diameter of roughly ten meters, ranking among the largest optical telescopes in the world.

Operations started in 1984 with the Isaac Newton Telescope, relocated here from the Royal Greenwich Observatory in England. Over the following decades, more instruments were added, funded and operated by different European institutions.

The name refers to the island's highest peak, on whose slopes the facility sits and from where visitors can see above the cloud layer on clear days. Research teams from several countries work side by side here, sharing observation data through a fast network that operates around the clock.

The site sits above the cloud line, so temperatures can be much cooler than on the coast even in summer and warm clothing is advisable. The approach follows a winding mountain road that demands extra attention in wet or foggy conditions.

The air here is so dry and clean that the night sky often stays completely clear, revealing stars all the way to the horizon. Four helicopter pads allow rapid assistance in case of technical problems or medical emergencies despite the remote location.

Location: Garafía

Official opening: June 29, 1985

Elevation above the sea: 2,396 m

Part of: European Northern Observatory, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures

Website: https://iac.es/es/observatorios-de-canarias/observatorio-del-roque-de-los-muchachos

GPS coordinates: 28.76360,-17.89470

Latest update: December 20, 2025 14:16