Thousands of stars burn in the dark sky over the dry Atacama Desert, located in northern Chile
For an astronomer, there is nothing nicer than a dark sky, fenced off from city lights. Having got rid of the bright light, you can admire the nightlife that stars give us. It is especially unusual to observe the curving line of the Milky Way, consisting of billions of stars, whose light travels to us distances of hundreds and thousands of light years.
Unfortunately, new technologies and civilization have deprived us of dark territories, so it is difficult to find a cozy corner from which to admire the Universe. However, the International Dark Sky Association is working to preserve survey sites.
For this chose Chile, namely the Atacama Desert. Located far from cities. Moreover, the dry air and high elevations create ideal conditions for observing the stars from Earth.
The Paranal Observatory towers over the Atacama Desert
Professional astronomers took advantage of this unique climate, creating large telescopes and huge arrays on desert mountain peaks. For example, ALMA is one of the most productive devices that allow penetrating into the hearts of galaxies and looking at remote corners of the Universe.
But the beauty of the Chilean sky is not only accessible to scientists. In recent decades, more and more specialized resorts appear, allowing everyone to see the real night sky.
The Alto Atacama open-air observatory provides a unique opportunity to observe
In December 2018, a group of scientists is going to spend several nights in the desert in order to study the night sky without the influence of sunlight. A study of the desert itself is also planned. If you wish, you can also visit the resort town of San Pedro.
