Because of the altitude, aridity, and almost non-existent light pollution, some of the most technically advanced and scientifically renowned observatories in the world are located in the Atacama Desert.
Sitting on top of a hill, the Paranal Observatory is arguably the most famous of them all, and holds tours for the public to see the facilities. Home to the Very Large Telescope, the Paranal has been instrumental in such groundbreaking observations as tracking the movements of planets around a black hole, and taking the first ever picture of an exoplanet.
But the uncontested king of Atacama’s observatories is ALMA. The ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) is the largest and most ambitious land observatory ever built, a $1.5 billion, multinational project drawing astronomers and scientists from all over the world to use its immense 66 antennae telescope, which is more powerful than the Hubble telescope. Public tours are extremely popular, and generally need to be booked a month or so in advance. But don’t expect to get too close to ALMA’s legendary telescope. The site is off limits because of the risk of altitude sickness (it is 5,000 meters above sea level) and the delicateness of the equipment. But the thrill of seeing the array is best enjoyed from a distance, where the scale of the project can be truly appreciated.
It’s not just the sky that’s of interest to science. NASA has also used the sandy, rocky terrain to test Mars rovers being prepped for space travel.
Where and How To Watch the Skies
In addition to observatories offering day tours, most hotels and tourism companies in San Pedro de Atacama offer year-round stargazing tours and excursions led by local astronomy experts with top notch equipment or access to smaller, tourism-oriented observatories.
One of the best ways to marvel at and learn about the Atacama’s night skies is over an outdoor dinner with a local astronomy expert, who offers an accompanying lecture during dinner and points out planets, constellations, and other celestial objects.
Things to consider
It’s not just the sky that’s of interest to science. NASA has also used the sandy, rocky terrain to test Mars rovers being prepped for space travel.
Where and How To Watch the Skies
In addition to observatories offering day tours, most hotels and tourism companies in San Pedro de Atacama offer year-round stargazing tours and excursions led by local astronomy experts with top notch equipment or access to smaller, tourism-oriented observatories.
One of the best ways to marvel at and learn about the Atacama’s night skies is over an outdoor dinner with a local astronomy expert, who offers an accompanying lecture during dinner and points out planets, constellations, and other celestial objects.
Things to consider
- Before planning a trip to the Atacama for stargazing, be sure to check this year’s lunar calendar, in case there are any astronomical events you’d like to observe, like meteor showers or eclipses.
- Don't go stargazing during a full moon! At peak fullness, the brightness of a full moon over a desert landscape is a hauntingly beautiful image, but washes out the night sky.
- Invest in a star chart or stargazing apps to find constellations and planets. If you’re attending a tour, the guide will be able to point these out for you, but it’s also fun to try and figure out the night sky on your own!
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