Stargazing Night with the LSTs on La Palma: An Astrophotographer's Journey

La Palma truly deserves its reputation as one of the best night skies in the world! My recent astrophotography trip to the Canary Islands brought me back to a familiar, breathtaking location on the island of La Palma.

Revisiting a Favorite Spot

This part of the LP4 road is a well-known haven for astrophotographers. It offers a unique vantage point, including a view of the Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs). These are gamma-ray telescopes, designed to detect faint, low-energy gamma-ray signals from the universe.

I had visited this spot several years ago and was excited to return. Upon arrival, I noticed the installation of new telescopes. While they are a relatively recent addition and certainly impressive, their presence disrupted the perspective I had originally envisioned for my photograph. Adding to the challenge, their mirrors were covered, which meant no reflections of the stars. Nevertheless, the view of the telescopes themselves remains undeniably beautiful.

Unforeseen Skyward Spectacle

While composing the foreground, my attention was drawn to a green laser beam pointing upwards into the night sky. My initial thought was that it might belong to authorized photographers with access to the restricted area, or perhaps it was part of a targeting system for the telescope. It was an intriguing, albeit unexplained, addition to the scene.

Experimenting with New Techniques

This trip was the perfect opportunity to experiment with some new photography techniques I had been eager to try. I incorporated a Star Glow filter, which imparts that beautiful sparkling effect to the stars, and an Hα filter, which is excellent for revealing the subtle reds of nebulae.

Each filter required a separate shot. This meant that for every section of my panorama, I captured a standard image, an Hα image, and one with the glow filter applied. I was genuinely concerned that all this extra effort might go to waste, but I'm thrilled with the final outcome!

The Technical Details

The final image is a panorama meticulously crafted from 16 individual photos. I used a 50mm focal length, with 6 photos dedicated to capturing the sky and 10 for the foreground, which I later cropped.

Note: This image is the result of long exposures and specific filters. While the Milky Way is indeed visible to the naked eye from La Palma, it appears with fewer details and without the vibrant colors captured in this photograph.

Camera Settings: