Tajinaste Rojo and Eta-Aquarid Fireball

Photographer: Roberto PortoSummary Author: Roberto Porto

Shown in the foreground of this early morning scene taken from Teide National Park, Canary Islands, is a Tajinaste rojo (Echium wildpretii), an endemic plant that only grows naturally on the summits of some Canary Islands. Tajinastes typically bloom during early May. They can reach up to 10 ft (3 m) in height, but this year, the lack of snow (for the first time in 108 years it did not snow during the winter of 2023-2024) and a terrible forest fire that devastated the island the previous summer, resulted in tajinastes that were small in size and fewer in number.

At top, several meteors from the Eta-Aquarids Meteor Shower can be seen (at left) on this 15-second exposure, including an impressive fireball. The trail left from this exploding meteor could be detected 3 1/2 minutes later. Note that the lights near the summit of Teide are from the lamps of hikers, climbing this 12,198 ft (3,718 m) volcanic mountain to see the sunrise from the island's, and Spain's, highest point. Photo taken on May 6, 2024.

Photo Details: Taken with a Nikon Z5 camera; Samyang 24 mm lens; f:1.4; 1600 ISO; 15 second exposure.

 

Teide National Park, Canary Islands, Spain Coordinates: 28.2539, -16.6183

Related Links:Tajinaste RojoMeteor Shower CalendarWatch the Skies