SPACE (SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA CELESTIAL EXPLORATIONS)

The SPACE Observatory is first the story of a personal adventure by Alain Maury, his creator. Engineer with a photographer training, he works first at the French Riviera Observatory where he makes some important discoveries before leaving the United States from 1984 to 1988 in the prestigious Mont Palomar Observatory in California. Over the years, he has become a great specialist in asteroids and comets. In 2000 he arrived in Chile, at the European Observatory in La Silla, as an engineer. Then in 2003 he left the CNRS and founded SPACE with his wife, a few kilometers south of San Pedro de Atacama. The objective of this non-standard observatory is to allow all audiences, whether simple tourists or amateur amateur astronomers, to discover the southern sky to the naked eye and through large telescopes, or to perfect their knowledge through state-of-the-art equipment for particular sky views. The success of SPACE is at the rendez-vous, and to say much beyond… Today, this observatory is an essential one to do when we arrive in this region! Discovery evenings are offered throughout the month, except for a few days around the full moon (but it is preferable to prefer the period of the new moon so that the lunar light does not interfere with the vision of the stars and the Milky Way). The information provided by the animators is in French several times a week (please inquire about the exact dates). The visitor learns first to explore the sky to the naked eye, then to recognize the main constellations and finally to apprehend the great principles of celestial mechanics. The second part of the evening leaves room for observations to the telescopes arranged on the large terrace, with breathtaking views of the Licancabur volcano. The largest telescope available is 720 mm in diameter… What can be seen in exceptional conditions in some typical southern sky objects such as the star Omega of Centaur and 47 Toucan, refined nebulae such as the Carène, or plunging into the heart of Magellan clouds? The third part of the evening takes place around a hot drink and a broken stick discussion. The opportunity to ask questions about the work of astronomers and the wonders of the Universe. For travelers wishing to stay on the spot, the SPACE also offers quality accommodation with typical decoration, with ultimate refinement, a swimming pool that can be enjoyed from mid-October to mid-March (we are in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are inverted.).