VHS-VISTA observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
The VHS-VISTA observatory lies in Chile's Antofagasta Region, part of the European Southern Observatory's Paranal Observatory complex.
About VHS-VISTA observatory
VHS-VISTA observatory is operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) as part of the wider Paranal Observatory site, one of the world's most productive locations for professional astronomy. Detailed public information specific to this facility is limited, but its ESO operatorship places it among a cluster of major telescopes surveying the southern sky.
Location & getting there
The site sits in the Antofagasta Region of northern Chile, part of the South America region, in the Atacama Desert, renowned for having some of the clearest and darkest skies on Earth.
Visiting VHS-VISTA observatory
ESO's Paranal Observatory complex offers organised visitor tours on a limited schedule. Check the ESO Paranal Observatory page for current visiting arrangements before planning a trip, as access to research telescopes is generally restricted outside scheduled tours.
See your named star from here
Few places on Earth offer skies as dark and clear as the Atacama Desert around Paranal. A star named through Star Register comes with the exact coordinates you need to find it, wherever your own stargazing takes you. Use the star-naming packages to get a certificate and locator details, or browse the catalogue to see stars already named by others.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
