Star Gazing on the Canaries?

[Gavin]

Morning, has anyone ever been up to any of the observatories on the Canary Islands and if so which one/how etc?

Took my better half to Kielder but as with pretty much every trip to a dark skies area, cloud cover was total. Thought we would have better luck somewhere less cloudy and have a holiday at the same time.

[dinny_g]

Cool idea Gav, like it.

Lanzarote of mainly developed round the coast In the south so I’d imagine all you’d need is a car to drive to somewhere quiet. Or Peñas del Chache which is the main star gazing site

Would you bring your own kit ??

[NotoriousREV]

Been up to the one on Tenerife. You’re above the clouds and well away from light pollution, too. It’s a bit disorientating, to be honest. Space is big. Really big.

I should say, we didn’t get to use their telescopes but we did visit on one of their open days. I’m sure it was very interesting if you spoke Spanish.

If you just want to look at stars, just drive up the main road that goes over Mt Teide.

[Gavin]

Cheers, hunting around now and seems like a daytime tour is easy enough but no night time access to the big telescopes. Seem to be a few places can do night trips up with binoculars which would probably be spot on.

Only been to Tennerife once before and we stayed just up the hill from Playa las Americas but wasn't our thing, would rather go cycling, running or climbing or similar to just lying by a pool getting pished.

[NotoriousREV]

There’s loads to do on Tenerife. My brothers live there and take tourists paragliding. Loads of hiking and mountain bike trails etc. The pine forests are beautiful.

[dinny_g]

We stayed at the Marina in Playa Blanca (on Lanzarote)

Would go again...

[Gavin]

Cool, I went diving for the first time there, given I grew up wanting to be Cousteau it seems odd it took me so long but fancy doing that as well.

In-laws have offered to take the kids for a week and said kids are delighted so a nice way to celebrate 18 years married.

Sounds like we might be best to find half board and hire a wee car to get out to hiking spots. Cheers

[NotoriousREV]

If you fancy hurling yourself off a mountain, strapped to one of my brothers and a big table cloth, let me know

[Gavin]

Ha ha! I would love to, my dear wife is terrified of heights though!

I am now looking at Majorca and doing some diving as a possibility...

[dinny_g]

Have you been watching the repeat of The Planets this holiday by any chance Gav??

[Gavin]

No, just something I have a mild interest in, my brother is a keen astronomer and used to attend astro camps etc, it was an excellent excuse to stay out late so I chummed him and my other half also has an interest and we live near Kielder dark sky and D&G but we have had astronomically bad luck with cloud cover every time we try...

[PaulJ]

Must admit I thought this might be a drugs reference when I spotted the thread title...

[Orange Cola]

Everything Rev said. Tenerife is great and it’s only 4 hours away so a Friday night flight after work/long weekends are achievable.

From the times I’ve been there’s definitely more than enough activity stuff on the island to outweigh the folk wanting a pool holiday.

[Marv]

No, just something I have a mild interest in, my brother is a keen astronomer and used to attend astro camps etc, it was an excellent excuse to stay out late so I chummed him and my other half also has an interest and we live near Kielder dark sky and D&G but we have had astronomically bad luck with cloud cover every time we try...

First time I visited New Zealand back in 2012, I went to one of their observatories on a mountain in the South Island. Was lucky enough to have a wonderfully clear sky, no moon out that night either. Was bloody cold, but was a brilliant thing to do

[Gavin]

We now appear to be going to Malta to do some diving...