La Palma professionals receive training on lighting regulations with support from the IAC's Sky Protection Technical Office

Conference on the Law for the protection of astronomical quality in outdoor lighting installations on La Palma, held in Santa Cruz de La Palma
Conference on the Law for the protection of astronomical quality in outdoor lighting installations on La Palma, held in Santa Cruz de La Palma.
Advertised on

The Technical Office for the Protection of the Skies (OTPC) of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias has played a key role in the technical conference, organised by the Regional Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Canary Islands Government, which was held today in Santa Cruz de La Palma.

Entitled ‘Conference on the Law for the Protection of Astronomical Quality in Outdoor Lighting Installations on La Palma’, the meeting brought together architects, installation engineers and technical staff from public administrations and the business sector to resolve doubts about the application of Law 31/1988, known as the Sky Law, and its regulations, as well as the associated current regulations such as RD 1890/2008 on energy efficiency in outdoor lighting installations.

The Councillor for Ecological Transition and Energy, Mariano H. Zapata, pointed out that the aim of this conference ‘is to bring together all interested parties and promote the coexistence between the protection of astronomical quality and the economic and social activity of the island, by improving knowledge of the regulations; this will not only avoid possible sanctions but will also help to continue making La Palma the unique place that it has been for years for astronomy worldwide’.

During the meeting, the technical criteria established in the catalogue of technical specifications approved in RD 580/2107 were presented, which include indications regarding the use of LED lamps (light sources) that can be certified by the IAC and the limitation of lighting levels in accordance with the Energy Efficiency Regulation for outdoor lighting and European standards, as well as the timetable for their operation.

The opportunity was also taken to inform about all the legislation in force in La Palma, according to the competence of each administration and each professional, and to resolve all the doubts that were raised from different areas, as well as to inform about the IAC's Technical Office for the Protection of the Skies (OTPC) and all the administrative procedures linked to the Law of the Sky.

The Canary Islands Sky Law, or Law 31/1988, is a pioneering piece of legislation for the protection of the sky, especially for astronomical observation. Its main objective is to preserve the astronomical quality of the IAC observatories on La Palma and Tenerife and it addresses light pollution (artificial light that hinders observation) and radio pollution (signals that interfere with instruments) as never before.

Since its approval, the regulation has been a model for other legislation around the world and has contributed to the preservation of the quality of the skies in the Canary Islands, making a decisive contribution to astrophysical research worldwide.

Related news
Momento de la reunión sobre protección de la pardela cenicienta / Cabildo de Tenerife
El IAC recibe el agradecimiento del Cabildo de Tenerife por su apoyo en la protección de la pardela cenicienta
El Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias ha recibido el agradecimiento, de manos Pedro Millán, Director Insular de Medio Natural del Área de Medio Natural, Sostenibilidad, Seguridad y Emergencias del Cabildo de Tenerife, por su participación en la iniciativa “El Primer Viaje” para la protección de la pardela cenicienta. La iniciativa “El Primer Viaje” tiene el objetivo fundamental de aumentar el compromiso de los establecimientos de alojamiento turístico con la protección de las aves y en especial con la pardela cenicienta, así como informar al visitante de la situación ambiental de esta ave
Advertised on
La consejera insular de Turismo Raquel Rebollo Morera; el director del IAC, Valentín Martínez Pillet y la consejera insular de Desarrollo Económico, Miriam Perestelo Rodríguez. /Inés Bonet (IAC)
El Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias agradece el compromiso de la ciudadanía palmera con la protección de sus cielos
El Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) agradece a la ciudadanía palmera y a sus instituciones su compromiso con la protección de sus cielos en el cumplimiento de la Ley del Cielo y por la cesión de sus cumbres para el estudio científico. Así se ha puesto de manifiesto en la reunión monográfica mantenida por el IAC, el Cabildo Insular de La Palma y los ayuntamientos de la isla celebrada en el Palacio Salazar. En la reunión han participado el director del IAC, Valentín Martínez Pillet; la consejera de Turismo del Cabildo de La Palma, Raquel Rebollo Morera; y la consejera de Promoción
Advertised on
Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), also known as GRANTECAN.
Photomontage
Sky protection is one of the central issues on the agenda of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias is taking part in the workshop "Dark and Calm Skies for the present and future of Astronomy", which will be held in Brussels on Monday 10 July. The aim of the workshop is to present the current situation, needs and challenges of this area of science; to show the work carried out by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), part of the United Nations General Assembly; and to analyse the perspective of the EU's space policy. The increase in light pollution and satellite constellations is one of the first issues to be discussed by Spain
Advertised on
News report
The OTPC: thirty years working to protect the sky
The Technical Office for the Protection of Sky Quality (OTPC, its Spanish initials) has become a model copied by other Spanish autonomous regional communities such as Catalonia, the Balearics, Analusía, Navarre, Cantabria, Castille & Leon, and Extremadura. It has also been a reference for other places in the world, such as Chile, Hawaii, and Italy. When night falls, we often think, mistakenly, that the more artificial lighting we have the better. There is more security, a greater sense of tranquility for people in general, and the important buildings are best presented. But this insistence
Advertised on
News type
Photomontage
Scope
Legislation
Sky protection
General public
Oficina Técnica de Protección de la Calidad del Cielo
OTPC
sky protection
Calidad del Cielo
Ley del Cielo
Sky Law

It may interest you

  • A large white machine with two big doors (polishing machine for large surfaces) in a white room with high ceilings (IACTEC's south clean room).
    Photomontage
    The IAC moves towards becoming a global benchmark in the manufacture of optical elements
    The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), through its Optics Department and the Center for Advanced Optical Systems (CSOA), is taking a new step towards becoming one of the largest manufacturers of optical elements for large telescopes in the world. This is after the consolidation of a new infrastructure for optical production that will allow it, from now on, to take care of all the stages in the manufacture of mirrors for large telescopes, from the cutting of parts to polishing and coating, as well as the manufacture of other precision optical elements for astrophysical
    Advertised on
  • Attendees at the conference ‘From Fake News to Real Clusters: The Controversial Fate of High-z Galaxy Protoclusters’ held at the IACTEC building in La Laguna
    Photomontage
    International conference at the IAC explores the mysteries of the early universe
    The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) organised the international conference From Fake News to Real Clusters: The Controversial Fate of High-z Galaxy Protoclusters, which was held at the IACTEC building of the Las Mantecas Technology Park in La Laguna (Tenerife, Spain) from 13 to 16 May 2025. This meeting brought together around 30 researchers dedicated to the study of protoclusters and large-scale structures in the early stages of the universe. The event focused on the latest findings from multi-frequency observations and advanced modelling techniques, with a special focus on
    Advertised on
  • Neighbours of Garafía together with the staff of the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory during the Open House Days
    Photomontage
    The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory holds a new meeting with its neighbours in Garafía
    Today, Friday 16th August, the traditional Open Day of the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM) was held for the residents of the village of Garafía, in La Palma. With this event, the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) participates in the programme of the Fiestas Patronales of the municipality where the Observatory is located. This fraternisation event, between the town and the scientific, technical and working staff who work at the centre's facilities, has been taking place since the first years of its opening and celebrates its 39th edition. The IAC and the scientific
    Advertised on