Tenerife Offers Prime Stargazing for Meteor Shower, Comets This Week
Tenerife offers prime stargazing conditions this week, with dark skies favoring views of a meteor shower, Comet Lemmon, Comet SWAN, Saturn, and the Milky Way.
Following the Perseid meteor shower in August, Tenerife is once again a great spot to watch another meteor shower.
The Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics (IAC) says that the night of Tuesday, October 21st, and the rest of the week will be perfect for stargazing. With no moon in the sky, it will be extra dark, making it easier to see the meteor shower, as well as the Lemmon and SWAN comets, Saturn, and the Milky Way.
You can spot Comet Lemmon, discovered by Carson Fuls on January 3, 2025, for about an hour above the northwest horizon. If you're in a dark area with no lights, you might even see it without binoculars or a telescope. But if you want to get a good look at its bright center and tail (pointing away from the sun), you'll need those tools.
Comet SWAN is a bit fainter, so you'll need binoculars or a telescope to see it. It will be crossing the Milky Way through the Sagittarius constellation, above the southwest horizon. While you won't be able to see it with just your eyes, it's perfect for anyone who loves taking photos of the night sky.
The IAC also notes that it's rare for two comets to be so close to Earth at the same time. Comet Lemmon takes about 1,400 years to orbit the sun, while Comet SWAN takes over 20,000 years!
Tenerife is known for having some of the best spots for stargazing, so people on the island have a great chance to see all the amazing things happening in the sky this week.
Teide National Park is a top location. Places like the Mirador de Izaña, the Parador Nacional del Teide, El Portillo, and the Las Cañadas area offer clear views of the sky, far away from city lights.
Other good spots include the Mirador de Chipeque in La Orotova, and the Mirador de Samara in Guía de Isora. Both are perfect for watching the meteor shower and taking some memorable photos.