Astronomy in Chile - A unique place and time

Chile hosts one of the largest collections of optical and infra-red telescopes in the world: currently five 8 meter telescopes, two 6 meter telescopes, four 4 meter  telescopes, and a variety of smaller telescopes (the number quoted here, e.g. 8 meter, is the diameter of the main mirror of the telescope). Long term future plans include the construction of telescopes with mirror diameters between 24 meters (GMT) and about 45 meters (E-ELT)!

Two 12 meter sub-millimeter radio telescopes are currently operational, at a site which will soon host the largest most sensitive millimeter radio telescope array in the world (ALMA; first observations in 2008, with expected completion around 2012). These observatories and telescopes are run by international teams from the U.S., Europe, U.K., and Japan, among others. As part of a standard agreement, astronomers from Chilean institutes obtain preferential access (10% of all observing time) on every telescope located in Chile.

 

 
   

Chilean Universities with a research program in Astronomy

 

International Observatories in Chile

Other International Telescopes in Chile (listing only those not part of the above observatories)

 

Chilean Astronomy Societies

 

Astronomy Departament - Universidad de Concepción - Casilla 160 - C - Concepción - Chile