Bortle 2· Truly darkCertified reserveIsland

La Palma Caldera

Spain · 28.75°, -17.89°

Above the inversion layer, on top of the clouds.

4.7(501)

Best night in range

Jun 14, 2026

2% cloud · 3% moon

93Sky score

SQM reading: 21.76mag/arcsec²
Naked-eye limit: 7.6mag
Clear nights: 271per year
Elevation: 2,396 m

The site

Roque de los Muchachos sits at 2,396 m — usually above the trade-wind cloud deck, which acts as a natural light-pollution shield for the whole island. The Sky Law of 1988 protects the site. Seeing here is among the best in the northern hemisphere: sub-arcsecond on a good night.

Cloud inversion blocks island light from below
Sub-arcsecond seeing on 40% of nights
Largest optical telescope in the world on the ridge

Ten-night forecast

Updated 6h ago

Sky Score combines cloud cover, transparency, seeing, humidity and lunar illumination against this site's Bortle class. Higher is better; anything above 82 is worth rearranging a calendar for.

Night	Moon	Cloud	Transparency	Seeing	Humidity	Sky score
SunJun 14Best	3%	2%	91%	88%	17%	93
MonJun 15	0%	5%	94%	67%	20%	89
TueJun 16	0%	14%	87%	93%	21%	89
WedJun 17	2%	2%	87%	64%	12%	89
ThuJun 18	6%	32%	75%	69%	39%	76
FriJun 19	12%	2%	91%	75%	16%	90
SatJun 20	20%	9%	87%	64%	27%	85
SunJun 21	29%	2%	90%	72%	23%	88
MonJun 22	39%	39%	69%	76%	37%	70
TueJun 23	50%	19%	84%	51%	36%	75

When to come

Share of nights that stay usable, month by month. The recommended window is April, May, June, July, August and September.

58%

60%

66%

72%

81%

90%

93%

92%

85%

74%

63%

57%

JFMAMJJASOND

Recommended windowShare of clear nights

Guided nights here

Expeditions at La Palma Caldera

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Enthusiast

La Palma Caldera · Spain

Planetary Nights on the Roque

Four nights chasing sub-arcsecond seeing at 2,396 m, with lucky-imaging capture and stacking.

PlanetaryAstrophotography

Aug 21–25, 20264 nightsmax 8

From, per person

$2,240

4.8(57)

Marta Oquendo

The site

Cloud inversion blocks island light from below

Sub-arcsecond seeing on 40% of nights

Largest optical telescope in the world on the ridge

Night

Moon

Cloud

Transparency

Seeing

Humidity

Sky score

SunJun 14Best

91%

88%

17%

MonJun 15

94%

67%

20%

TueJun 16

14%

87%

93%

21%

WedJun 17

87%

64%

12%

ThuJun 18

32%

75%

69%

39%

FriJun 19

12%

91%

75%

16%

SatJun 20

20%

87%

64%

27%

SunJun 21

29%

90%

72%

23%

MonJun 22

39%

69%

76%

37%

TueJun 23

50%

19%

84%

51%

36%