Vina del Mar observatory

Viña del Mar, on Chile's central coast, holds a special place in the country's astronomical history, going back to what is considered Chile's first observatory, founded in 1842.

About Viña del Mar Observatory

The site is historically linked to the Museo del Mar “Lord Thomas Cochrane,” a colonial-style house also built in 1842 by the Englishman Juan Muat, which today houses the museum.

History

The 1842 founding makes this one of the earliest astronomical sites established anywhere in Chile, a country that would later become home to some of the world's most important modern observatories.

Location & getting there

Viña del Mar sits on Chile's central Pacific coast, next to the port city of Valparaíso, in the country's Valparaíso region.

Visiting Viña del Mar Observatory

For current opening hours and access, check with the Museo del Mar or search online before planning a visit, since the site's present-day astronomical use is not confirmed.

See your named star from here

Chile's clear coastal and desert skies have drawn astronomers for nearly two centuries, from this early 1842 site to the country's modern giant telescopes further north. Name a star of your own, or browse the catalogue of named stars.