They call La Palma the island of stars, and in April 2025, it became the epicenter for science, stargazing and music. I was there for STARMUS, a festival that brings together Nobel Prize winners, astronauts, musicians and science enthusiasts for several days of talks, performances and cosmic inspiration. But nothing prepared me for the moment I first looked up at the night sky.
Standing upon the rooftop terrace of our hotel, in the beautiful town of Los Llanos de Aridane, I was in awe. The stars didn't twinkle, they blazed. Despite being far from the prime skywatching sites, the sky overhead was a dazzling dome of starlight. I eagerly reached for my phone, expecting a grainy blur. But to my surprise, the photos captured a sky bursting with stars and distant mountain silhouettes etched against the night sky.
