We hope HCA can fulfill your interest in learning more about the night sky, said HCA President Ryan Behrends. Father Picetti is also the creator of El Tololito (La Serena) and Cerro Mayu Observatories, Planetarium of the Universidad de Santiago (Santiago), The Rapanui Planetarium is located in Hanga Roa, Rapa Nui (a.k.a. The best infrastructure can be found in two key stargazing hubs: Elqui Valley in the Coquimbo Region and San Pedro de Atacama in the Antofagasta Region. Cookie Settings, This article is a selection from our new Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly, The U.S. Is Giving Away Lighthouses for Free, How the U.S. The 45-mile gravel road that took me through the rock-strewn Atacama from Ruta 5 (Chiles main highway) to Cerro Paranal during my first visit there in 1998 has since been paved, providing much easier access to the ESOs Very Large Telescope (VLT)one of the foremost professional astronomical observatories in the world. With a sky full of new constellations, I used naked eyes and binoculars to explore. Bolivia's food is as diverse as its population and you'll find new delicacies to sample in every town. Astronomy in Chile - Wikipedia Why is this the case? Horseback expeditions lasting for many daysback then, there were no roads in this remote part of the worldtook them to the summits of mountains like Cerro Tololo, Cerro La Silla and Cerro Las Campanas, where they set up their equipment to monitor humidity (or lack thereof), sky brightness and atmospheric transparency. Another budget option for stargazing enthusiasts is Alfa Aldea in Vicua, which has its own onsite telescope and star tours. She is widely known for her participation in NASA's program "Teachers in Space" with an opportunity to visit the International Space Station or participate in the ground-based support for space missions engaging teachers. The Millimeter Wave Laboratory of A haven for New Age believers and practitioners of crystal healing and chakra therapy, here its all about the natural: youll find no high-tech, modern observatories (the most youll find is the petite Cancana Observatory with its two 14-inch telescopes). We dont get tired of repeating ourselves: Chile is the best place in the World to gaze at the night sky into the universe! There are many different modes and price ranges, but they all have in common a warm welcoming and didactic immersion into astronomy, preceding the open sky experience. Guillaume is a French amateur astronomer and astrophotographer who fell in love with astronomy when he read documentary books as a nine-year-old kid. Many regions in Chile do not have these problems, and if they do, they exist on a smaller scale. July 26, 2021 // Alan There are many different places all around our planet that make for the perfect place to do some serious stargazing. One of the most productive and renowned astronomical observatories in the world, Paranal is home ot the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in the Atacama desert. Cookie Policy Copyright 2018Astronomical League. ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) is the latest addition to Chiles professional astronomical facilities. 12, 13, 27. Chile boasts vibrant cities, enigmatic islands, rolling vinelands and some of the most pristine nature on earth. If one considers the history of recent astronomical breakthroughs, it is clear how much we have benefited by our Chilean facilities. Cerro Mayu lies at the entrance of Elqui Valley in the village of Quebrada de Talca village, 25km from La Serena. Youll learn about how ancestral knowledge of the stars informed local agricultural practices, as well as peer into the Milky Way to discover messages hidden within its dark spots. He will also give a tour of the many large robotic telescopes operated remotely at the observatory and show how he was able to use a 24-inch PlaneWave telescope to take deep sky images. A dedicated 570-megapixel camera attached to the four-meter (157 inches) Blanco Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory is charting dark matter and dark energytwo mysterious components of the universe that no one really understands. Its a surrealistic world of arid deserts, endless salt flats, colorful lagoons, geothermal activity and imposing volcanoes. The best for stargazers is the Nayara Alto Atacama, which has a 16-inch telescope on a hill above the hotel for nightly stargazing sessions. In the Cajn del Maipo you can find the Roan Jas Observatory that offers astronomic tours, day (solar) and night observations with different size telescopes. Here's our pick of the best places to visit. By: Chile Travel - 28 August, 2021. Exploring the Driest Place on Earth: Chiles Atacama Desert. Chile is an astronomers paradise. Surrounded by Martian-red hills, the most famous of Paranals eyes on the skies is the aptly-named Very Large Telescope (VLT), whose four individual optical telescopes are responsible for capturing the first direct photo of an exoplanet. But if you really want to immerse yourself in the Chilean night sky, I strongly recommend a visit to SPACE, which stands for San Pedro de Atacama Celestial Explorations. Astro-tourism in Chile: The best place in the World for stargazing The rest of the tour is spent observing planets, stars, constellations, and other celestial bodies through their collection of 20- to 72-centimeter telescopes, which make up South Americas biggest public telescope park. ALMA Observatory | ALMA Far from big cities and sitting upwards of a mile high, the night sky takes on an incredible clarity perfect for natural stargazing from campsites along the Rio Mgico or at a recreated Inca observatory. San Pedro de Atacama lies in the middle of the desert and is one of Chiles most popular resort towns. The Atacama Desert unfurls across northern Chile in sizzling salt flats, bone-dry sierras, barren beaches and prickly patches of colorful cacti. On the road to the Chilean capitals sky centers, who will get an introduction to astronomy, with talks, observation with binoculars, different types of telescopes and astro-photography demos. Gaining insight from spending time under the dark, pristine skies of the Texas Hill Country, Kattner has learned that preserving the beauty of our night skies is a significant natural resource important to each of us, said spokesman for the group. The building contains also a large conference room for astronomy talks, although the talks are only held in Spanish. While we didnt visit LSST, we met with the educational outreach coordinator for the project in Chile and learned quite a bit about the science behind the instrument. WebFor astrophotography, you want to keep the ISO as low as you can, while still enhancing the light sensitivity, in order to keep your images of the sky as crisp and clear as possible. http://www.haciendalosandes.com/en/astronomy.html. [17] These include: Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. ACEAP plans to accept applications for 2019 soon! And the story continues with new telescopes, including the Large Synaptic Survey Telescope (LSST). Those with a more flexible budget should head toElqui Domos, where clear-top domes let you count stars from the comfort of your bed. June 2017. pp. Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. The darkness of the sky and atmospheric stability make it a must-visit place for stargazing. Most professional observatories are open to visitors only during daytime hours. For example, in Atacama theres a proposition to promote Ethnic-Astro-tourism or also called, Archeological Astronomy, which helps people today to understand the Andean Cosmo-vision of the past, developed centuries ago by the Likan Antay or Atacama people, whose lives were very much influenced by the stars, impacting even the social structure of the Andean people. Moreover, the northern part of the country experiences (on average) The NSF also invests more than $400 million in Antarctic research through the U.S. Antarctica Program, including joint research activities with the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH). Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassador Program (ACEAP 2019) in front of the Blanco telescope on Cerro Tololo. Indigenous communities in the Atacama Desert, located in the northern part of what It has different telescopes, conference rooms with audiovisual material. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. Relations With Chile Travelers who want to trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in 2022 should start planning permits for the epic hike are available. Atop a 1,450m-high mountain, 17km away from Vicua, the Del Pangue Observatory is highly recommended for advanced observers and astrophotographers, with a range of 16-, 20-, 25- or 28-inch reflectors for use. The Cruz del Sur Observatory, located south of La Serena, has four domes with 12 to 16- inch telescopes to watch different areas of the sky. San Pedro has a direct connection to the city of Calama by taking taxi or shuttle in a trip that takes under an hour. Astro Elqui, in Vicua, combines performances, chats and astronomical observations for a three-hour experience exploring the Andean cosmovision of the local Diaguita culture. P.O. Shutter speed. Picetti, Battista: physics and astronomy teacher in the Seminario Conciliar de La Serena. Chile is an astronomers paradise. Using todays digital equipment, all of this can be captured on camera. For more stories from some of the worlds most exciting destinations click here. It has a greater array of restaurants and accommodations than the Elqui Valley and tends to draw a more international crowd. Any astronomy visit to Chile should include its most famous astronomical destination: the Atacama desert. To reach this northern part of the country, 1000km north from La Serena, a flight connection is recommended. Reams of night spots can be discovered within this vast piece of land and selecting a single one is not an easy task. Former astronomy professor leaves $1M for College of Arts and Save 50% when you subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine today! The Acclaimed world-wide, astro-tourism in Chile is a must-have experience. Its skies are the most clean and clear on Earth and offer the best conditions for looking into Outer space, and therefore, have also been an asset for the work of scientists and their quest to decipher the mysteries of the universe. Most of the worlds major observatories are located in Chile. Among the most remote places in the Elqui Valley is Alcohuaz. Kattner will show how DECams amazing wide-field vision A great article about astronomy in Chile has been published. Your Privacy Rights Observatorio Interamericano Cerro Tololo and La Silla, both near the Elqui Valley, are the most equipped to handle tourists. Who knows, one day we may run into each other and enjoy the view together. Pangue is also popular among astrophotographers, so if thats an interest of yours, bring a camera. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. Both offer tours on weekends, which must be reserved well in advance. Free tours are available here and on the same summit, the 4.1m SOAR telescope and the next-generation LSST telescope can also be found.