But the mysteries of the cosmos are not reserved for astronomers and physicists, as various organizations have gradually opened their doors to the general public to discover more about our Universe.
In the extreme north of Chile, both in the regions of Atacama and Antofagasta, several observatories have been installed to take advantage of the benefits of the Atacama Desert. The most iconic are the Paranal and the ALMAwhich have the most advanced systems at international level. In the case of Paranal, it is possible to visit its facilities every Saturday, while ALMA is open every Saturday and Sunday mornings. In both cases it is necessary to make reservations in advance.
The Coquimbo Region is another favorite destination for observing the sky, since in addition to having an ideal climate that provides 300 days a year of clear skies, light pollution control measures have also been implemented in various locations.
In this area there are several tourist observatories that offer tours throughout the year. Among the most popular are:
Cielo Sur Observatory - Alcohuaz
Mamalluca Observatory
Collowara Observatory
Pangue Observatory
Cruz del Sur Observatory
Some scientific observatories located in this region also offer tours of their enclosures, such is the case of the Gemini Observatory y Cerro Tololo ObservatoryObservatory, both run by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). (AURA). In the case of the former, reservations must be made two months in advance and are made during the week. In the case of Cerro Tololo, visits are made on Saturdays, in two small groups. In both cases the tours are of the facilities and only during the day, no night observations are made.
The Elqui Valley also offers other alternatives that are a little less conventional, such as horseback riding through various viewpoints that allow a natural view of the sky, as well as Astro Experiences, where tourists are taken to the mountain and can observe the sky through a professional telescope, accompanied by a refreshing pisco sour.
The city of Santiago also has alternatives for space enthusiasts, since it is home to the only planetarium in the country. The Planetarium Chile is located on the premises of the University of Santiago de ChileIt hosts lectures, projections of films about space, and exhibitions on topics such as astrophotography, the contributions of the Hubble telescope, and a tour of the 100 years of the theory of relativity.
South of the capital it is also possible to find tourist observatories in the regions of O'higgins, Maule, Biobío, where there is also a project to create the second planetarium in the country, and the Los Lagos Region.
And for those who want to learn more about the astronomical discoveries that have been carried out in the national territory, there is the Chile Mobile Observatory application, which collects spectacular images captured in various observatories in the country. A new way in which technology brings us closer to our universe.
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