Inside the Teide Observatory, and the Sun Through Its Telescope

The part that separates this from the other stargazing trips happens in daylight: a guided visit inside the Teide Observatory, which has been working since 1964 and holds one of the best solar telescopes in the world. You look at the sun through it, and the guides explain what the astrophysicists here are actually doing. The minibus collects from meeting points in northern Tenerife and climbs into the national park. Sunset comes next, with the sun going down behind the outline of the volcano. Then the base station of the cable car, and thirty minutes for a picnic: a sausage and cheese sandwich, something sweet, and a bottle of water or a soft drink. There is a version without the food, and if you take it you bring your own. The stars get an hour and a quarter, with long-range telescopes, the North Star, as many constellations as the night gives, and the Greek stories attached to them. Eight hours in total, ending back at the pick-up point.