Ckoirama Observatory

Ckoirama Observatory sits in the plains of the Atacama Desert, about 65 kilometres southeast of Antofagasta, Chile, and holds the distinction of being the country's first state-owned observatory.

About Ckoirama Observatory

Operated by the Centro de Astronomía (CITEVA) at Universidad de Antofagasta, Ckoirama takes its name from a word in the Kunza language meaning "twilight." It achieved first light in June 2015 and has now been running continuously for more than a decade.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's main instrument is a 0.6-metre telescope, used to support research into exoplanets and the smaller bodies of the Solar System. Ckoirama also collaborates internationally, including with University College London, and serves as an educational facility alongside its research work.

Location & getting there

The site sits on the flat desert plains southeast of Antofagasta in northern Chile, in the heart of the Atacama Desert, an area prized worldwide for its extremely dry air and dark, stable skies.

Visiting Ckoirama Observatory

As a research and teaching facility of Universidad de Antofagasta, visiting arrangements are best confirmed directly with the university before travelling out to the desert site.

See your named star from here

Every star named through Star Register comes with exact coordinates, the kind of data an observatory like Ckoirama uses daily to track its own research targets across the Atacama sky. Name a star ahead of a trip to northern Chile, or browse the catalogue of stars already registered.