Leoncito Astronomical Complex

The El Leoncito Astronomical Complex, known as CASLEO, is an astronomical observatory high in the San Juan Province of Argentina, inside a national park famous for its exceptionally clear skies.

About Leoncito Astronomical Complex

CASLEO sits at an elevation of 2,552 metres within El Leoncito National Park, an area of Argentina that rarely sees cloud cover. It shares the park with a second facility, the Carlos U. Cesco Astronomical Station of the Félix Aguilar Observatory.

History

CASLEO was established in 1983 through an agreement between Argentina's National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MINCYT), and the National Universities of San Juan, La Plata, and Córdoba. The facility was dedicated in 1986, and regular observations began in 1987.

Telescopes & research

CASLEO's telescopes are spread across two sites. The Jorge Sahade and Submillimeter telescopes, along with the complex's support facilities, sit on the edge of the Pampa de la Ciénaga del Medio. About 1.6 km to the northeast, on higher ground at Cerro Burek, are the Helen Sawyer Hogg telescope, the Ghielmetti telescope, and the Astrograph for the Southern Hemisphere.

Location & getting there

The complex is located in San Juan Province, Argentina, within El Leoncito National Park, at an elevation of 2,552 metres - one of the highest and clearest observing sites in South America.

Visiting Leoncito Astronomical Complex

Check CASLEO's official website for current visiting arrangements, as access to a working research observatory at this altitude typically needs to be planned in advance.

See your named star from here

Skies clear enough to support two national observatories are about as good as it gets for spotting a single named star among the thousands overhead. Name a star of your own, or browse the catalogue to see stars already registered.