Solar Observation
Discover the Sun as you've never seen it before: sunspots, solar prominences and the corona through specialized telescopes with safety filters. Daytime astronomy on La Palma.
✦ Highlights
- Specialized solar telescope with H-alpha filters
- Safe solar observation
- Sunspots and prominences in real time
- Ideal for children and families
- Daytime tour, any time of day
- The only star we can see during the day
The Sun: Our Star Up Close
Solar Observation is our only daytime tour, and it’s an equally fascinating experience as nighttime stargazing. We often forget that the Sun is a star — an extraordinarily active and dynamic one at that.
With our specialized solar telescopes and certified safety filters, you’ll be able to observe the Sun in a completely safe and astonishing way.
What Can You See?
Sunspots: Cooler areas on the solar surface that appear dark. They follow 11-year activity cycles. You’ll see their shape, size (some are larger than Earth) and how they shift position as the Sun rotates.
Solar Prominences (with H-alpha filter): Gigantic plasma eruptions that rise hundreds of thousands of kilometers above the solar surface. They’re an intense red color and their shape changes minute by minute.
Solar Granulation: The Sun’s surface is not uniform but is formed by millions of convection cells called granules, each about 1,000 km in diameter.
Faculae: Regions brighter than the normal surface, associated with magnetic activity.
Why Astronomy Isn’t Just for Nighttime
Many people believe astronomy is only a nighttime pursuit. Solar Observation will prove that our star deserves just as much study and attention as any object in the night sky.
It’s also the perfect tour for days during your La Palma stay when you want to complement your activities with something educational and surprising that you can do in broad daylight.
Ideal for Families and Schools
Solar Observation is especially popular with:
- Families with children wanting an educational scientific experience
- School groups on cultural visits to La Palma
- Visitors who are only available during the day
- Photographers interested in solar astrophotography
Equipment
We use refractor telescopes with double-certified safety filters for direct solar observation, including H-alpha filters that reveal the solar atmosphere (chromosphere) and its prominences in spectacular red. Observation is completely safe with our professional equipment.
Tour conditions
- Never look directly at the Sun without the telescope's specialised solar filters
- Comfortable clothing and sun protection recommended
- Suitable for children aged 5 and over
- Advance booking recommended; same-day availability subject to capacity
- Activity subject to weather conditions (clear skies essential)
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. If cloudy skies prevent solar observation, the activity will be rescheduled or a full refund will be issued.