Statement supporting the selection of La Palma for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) site:

The Comité Científico Internacional (CCI) of the Canary Islands Observatories enthusiastically welcomes the possibility that the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) may ultimately choose the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (ORM) on La Palma as its site. The ORM offers outstanding astronomical conditions, decades of successful international cooperation in operating telescopes, and a robust legal framework protecting its dark skies.

At its meeting on 27 November 2025 on the island of La Palma, the CCI was made aware of the status of the TMT project, including the latest developments following the announcement made by the Spanish Minister of Science last July, offering a contribution of up to €400 million should the TMT be built on La Palma. As the only 30-meter-class optical/infrared telescope under consideration for the Northern Hemisphere, the CCI acknowledges that the success of the TMT project has unique scientific significance for astrophysics on the global scale.

The CCI recalls that the Canary Islands Observatories benefit from one of the strongest sky-protection frameworks in the world, established by Spain’s Law 31/1988 on the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Skies with the specific “Ley del Cielo” for the island of La Palma. This law safeguards the exceptional atmospheric and environmental conditions of the sites by controlling light-pollution hazards and ensuring optimal scientific performance.

The CCI oversees the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) on operational matters and advises the IAC on the coordination of international activities at the ORM and the Observatorio del Teide (OT, Tenerife). The CCI stands ready to work constructively with all parties to help ensure that the scientific community can mutually benefit from the extraordinary opportunities that the TMT would offer to the Canary Islands Observatories and global astrophysics.

On behalf of the CCI,

Prof. Seppo Mattila (CCI President)                                                                                      Prof. Valentin Martinez Pillet (CCI Vice-President)