La Palma Observatory

Telescopes and volcanic terrain at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory.

At Roque de los Muchachos, scientific instruments share a severe volcanic ridge above the clouds. Domes and telescope dishes appear first at the end of an empty road, then repeat across successive peaks. Low shrubs soften the red ground, mist erases the horizon, and the open framework of a large telescope stands brilliant against the blue. The observatory reads as both landscape and working architecture.

• landscape
• mountain
• astronomy
• architecture
• summer