Open Days at the Teide Observatory 2023

Start date
End date
Address

Carretera de la Esperanza, s/n,

38570 Izaña, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Description

Thank you very much for your interest in the Open Days at the Teide Observatory 2023. All groups are already full. If you have not received an email confirming the date and time of your visit, there is no place for your application.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • The Open Days at the Teide Observatory (OT) 2023 will be held on 23 and 24 June.

  • They are free and open to the general public [1]. All explanations will be given in Spanish.

  • It is essential to make a reservation, which will be confirmed or not on 16 June depending on the number of places available. This year we have 900 places available.

  • In this edition, the visits will be guided, visiting 9 stations, one every 20 minutes. Therefore, the entire visit is expected to last 3 hours (from 10:00 to 13:00 for the morning session and from 16:00 to 19:00 for the afternoon session). To this must be added the travel time to and from the parking. Punctuality and synchronization of travel is vital for everyone to enjoy the day to the full. Please follow the instructions of your guides.

  • The total distance inside the Observatory is about 1.6 km, mostly on foot and mostly on footpaths (with some small stairs), so the visit is not recommended for people with reduced mobility, heart disease, respiratory problems, anemia, etc. Between the parking area and the telescope area, where the Open Day takes place, there is a difference in altitude of about 40 meters. If you have any difficulties, needs or emergencies, please inform your guide as soon as possible.

  • There is limited parking space and number of parking spaces at the observatory. It is not possible to park outside these areas. Please follow the instructions of the observatory staff.

  • In its commitment to the environment, the IAC recommends responsible use of vehicles and maximum vehicle occupancy. For this reason, and due to the limited parking space, priority will be given to vehicles with the highest number of passengers.

  • Access to the observatory parking is allowed from 09:00 in the morning session and from 15:00 in the afternoon session. We recommend being at the observatory about 30 minutes before the start of the activities so that groups can be formed. Once the groups have been formed and the visit has begun (deadline times are 09:50 and 15:50 for the morning and afternoon sessions, respectively), access to the Observatory will not be allowed.

RULES OF ACCESS

  • The person responsible for the reservation must present identification documentation (ID card or similar) for accreditation, so it is essential to bring it with you on the day assigned for your visit.

  • VERY IMPORTANT: Visitors whose number does not coincide (neither more nor less) with the number stated on the booking application form will not be admitted. If they do not match, they will be refused access to the observatory.

  • Only persons over 8 years of age are allowed to enter the observatory. Each minor must be accompanied by an adult.

  • Animals are not allowed in the observatory.

  • The fauna and flora are very important to us. It is forbidden to leave the paths of the observatory, to access unauthorized facilities or to separate from the group. It is forbidden to alter any natural element of the Teide Observatory or its facilities. Visitors will be responsible for any damage they may cause during the visit due to non-compliance with the access rules.

  • Summer has just begun, and we are in a period of great danger due to fires. We remind you that it is forbidden to smoke inside the facilities or make any kind of fire in the observatory.

  • There will be marked recycling points in the area of the toilets, so please keep any waste generated during the visit until you reach them.

  • We remind you that, according to Law 31/1988 and Order PRE/1841/2005, it is forbidden to fly over the Observatories of the Canary Islands, so the use of drones of any kind is not authorized during the Conference. Protected airspaces are published in the AIP-España ENR5.6-6 of 17 May 1998.

PRECAUTIONS

  • Before going up to the Teide observatory, it is advisable to check the weather conditions. Keep an eye on the IAC web page and/or your email in case there are any last-minute notifications.

  • We remind you that the observatory is located at an altitude of 2,400 m above sea level, so the weather you will find is high mountainous. We recommend that you bring at least a jacket, a hat, sun protection, comfortable footwear (closed shoes, no heels) and water [2].

 

[1] Throughout the year, visits of a different nature are organised, which can be requested through the IAC website: https://www.iac.es/es/observatorios-de-canarias/observatorio-del-teide/visitas

[2] One of the 9 stations of the visit will be in the area set up as a shop, bar and toilets. Here you can go to the toilet, buy souvenirs, drinks and food.