<p>If you want to see the milky way, you really need the moon to have set. The moon sets about 50 minutes later each day, so you will need to go later.  On the 28th of July, the moon sets at about 2 am and on the 29th it sets at about nearly 3am.  If the moon is up that will significantly affect the background sky brightness.  But when the moon is down, Tenerife has dark enough skies to see not only the milky way, but also the zodiacal light.</p>
<p>The other parameter is high cloud.  Although you are above low lying stratus, High cirrus or cirrostratus cloud can still obscure your view. Sand might also have an effect, but the reason that you can't see the milky way is primarily because the moon is up. So go back at 2am or later, until dawn at about 6am.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-28T10:14:21.003Z
2020-07-28T10:14:21.003Z
James K
<p>I'm on the Tenerife island and (in the mountains above the clouds - 2300) the day before yesterday, I could clearly see the Milky Way and stars (1 am). So I went to the same place yesterday and the quality was much worse (at midnight).</p>
<p>I'm curious why there was such a difference and what parameters could cause this difference.</p>
<ul>
<li>bigger moon?</li>
<li>different moon position?</li>
<li>sand from Sahara?</li>
</ul>
<p>It's El Teide park cerca 2300 meters above the sea.</p>
<p>Is it worth to try again today? What parameters should I look up? It's like 2 hours of driving so I would like to be able to estimate the results in advance.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-29T08:04:48.280Z
Just to echo what @a_donda said, the Calima is a big factor in the Canary Islands. If there's fine dust rising up from the Sahara, that will be a big influence on visibility.
Ben Hillier
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-31T10:28:47.180Z
Just curious - are you doing naked eye observation?
rinspy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-01T12:22:27.913Z
@rinspy yes, but I want to take some photos (just with a mobile)
Milano
<amateur-observing><star-gazing>
Stargazing (Tenerife) - different quality today and yesterday
Milano
# Stargazing (Tenerife) - different quality today and yesterday

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-07-28)

I'm on the Tenerife island and (in the mountains above the clouds - 2300) the day before yesterday, I could clearly see the Milky Way and stars (1 am). So I went to the same place yesterday and the quality was much worse (at midnight).

I'm curious why there was such a difference and what parameters could cause this difference.

* bigger moon?
* different moon position?
* sand from Sahara?

It's El Teide park cerca 2300 meters above the sea.

Is it worth to try again today? What parameters should I look up? It's like 2 hours of driving so I would like to be able to estimate the results in advance.

**Tags:** amateur-observing, star-gazing

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Just to echo what @a_donda said, the Calima is a big factor in the Canary Islands. If there's fine dust rising up from the Sahara, that will be a big influence on visibility.  
> **username_2**: Just curious - are you doing naked eye observation?  
> **username_0**: @username_2 yes, but I want to take some photos (just with a mobile)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-07-28. Score: 17 | Accepted answer

If you want to see the milky way, you really need the moon to have set. The moon sets about 50 minutes later each day, so you will need to go later. On the 28th of July, the moon sets at about 2 am and on the 29th it sets at about nearly 3am. If the moon is up that will significantly affect the background sky brightness. But when the moon is down, Tenerife has dark enough skies to see not only the milky way, but also the zodiacal light.

The other parameter is high cloud. Although you are above low lying stratus, High cirrus or cirrostratus cloud can still obscure your view. Sand might also have an effect, but the reason that you can't see the milky way is primarily because the moon is up. So go back at 2am or later, until dawn at about 6am.


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