Stargazing at the Masca viewpoint

Searching for stars in the Canarian skies

This large viewing platform, in the north-west corner of Tenerife in the borough of Buenavista del Norte offers incredible views from between a series of ravines from where you can contemplate the Canarian skies. With rugged road access and only a few parking spots this natural balcony is more than 1,000 metres above sea level. As there are no towns or services nearby you’ll need to take appropriate clothing and footwear, as well as food and drink.

Three zodiac constellations from Tenerife

In this western corner of Tenerife, looking to the south-east between the months of September and October, just after sundown, you can spot the autumn zodiac constellations of Pisces, Aquarius and Capricorn. Even though they may not be as clear as Pegasus to the east or Sagittarius to the south, there are some alignments of the stars that you can use to spot them. Under these constellations, looking towards the horizon, a lone star shines, just 25 light years away. This is Fomalhaut, the main star of the Piscis Austrinus constellation.