The Observatorios de Canarias (OOCC), which consists of the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (ORM) on La Palma and the Observatorio del Teide (OT) on Tenerife, contain jointly the telescopes and instruments of about 60 institutions from more than 20 countries. These are the most important collection of observational facilities for optical and infrared astrophysics inside the EU. Other experiments for high-energy astrophysics and the study of the cosmic microwave background complete the battery of facilities available. The excellent astronomical quality of the sky over the Canary Islands – comprehensively characterized and protected by Law – makes these observatories an ‘astronomy reserve’ that has been opened by Spain to the international scientific community since the establishment of the International Treaty on Cooperation in Astrophysics in 1979.
Roque de los Muchachos Observatoryis at the edge of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, at 2,400 metres above sea level, on the island of La Palma, there are some of the best telescopes in the world, among them the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC).
