Atacama Desert Observatory
Satellite imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics
The Atacama Desert Observatory lies in the Antofagasta Region of northern Chile, in the heart of one of the driest and clearest places on the planet for watching the night sky.
About Atacama Desert Observatory
Detailed public information on this particular facility is limited, but its setting places it within the broader Atacama astronomy corridor, a stretch of desert prized by professional and amateur observers alike for near-constant clear skies and minimal light pollution.
Location & getting there
The Antofagasta Region is home to some of the world's most important astronomical infrastructure, including the European Southern Observatory's Paranal site, the ALMA array on the Llano de Chajnantor plateau above 4,800 metres, and the Extremely Large Telescope under construction at Cerro Armazones. The extreme aridity of the Atacama Desert is what draws astronomers to the region generally, and it is the same dark, dry air that makes the site worth the trip.
Visiting Atacama Desert Observatory
No official visitor website is listed for this observatory, so anyone planning a trip should check current opening arrangements locally, for example through tour operators based in nearby San Pedro de Atacama, before travelling.
See your named star from here
Because any point in the sky can be described by coordinates, a star named through Star Register can be located from anywhere under a dark Atacama sky, including near this observatory. Name a star or browse the catalogue to find the exact right ascension and declination for a telescope here.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
