Astronomy in Chile

The north of Chile has some of the largest and most modern optical astronomical installations in the world. In the coming decades, it will also have the largest optical, submillimeter and microwave telescopes. The diverse and active astronomical community includes Chilean and international astronomers, engineers, students, teachers and amateurs.

Chilean Astronomical Institutions

Professional Astronomy

[
http://www.sochias.cl] ]
* [http://www.sochias.cl Chilean Astronomical Society (SOCHIAS)] es
* [http://www.cenastro.cl/ Center of Astrophysics FONDAP] es
* Center of Excellence in Astrophysics and related technologies, BASAL es

"Northern Chile"

* [http://www.dfuls.cl/astrofisica/ Astronomy Group] , [http://www.dfuls.cl/ University of La Serena] es
* University of Tarapaca

"Central Chile"

* [http://www.dfa.uv.cl/ Department of Physics and Astronomy] , University of Valparaíso
* [http://fisica.usach.cl/%7Eessg/essg_inicio.htm Group of Earth and Space Science] , University of Santiago. es
* [http://www.astro.puc.cl/ Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics] , Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. es
* [http://www.das.uchile.cl/ Astronomy Department] , [http://www.uchile.cl/ University of Chile]

"Southern Chile"

* Astronomy Department, University of Concepcion

Amateur Astronomy

* Cerro Los Condores Observatory (Atacama Region)
* Cerro Mayu Observatory (Coquimbo Region)
* Cerro Mamalluca Observatory (Coquimbo Region)
* Cerro Collowara Observatory (Coquimbo Region)
* Astronomical Society of Valparaiso and Viña (SAVAL) (Valparaiso Region)
* Department of Astronomy (RASTRO), University of Concepcion (Bio-Bio Region)
* Chilean Association of Astronomy and Astronautics (ACHAYA) (Metropolitan Region)
* Metropolitan Amateur Astronomical Society ( [http://www.smaa.cl SMAA] ) (Metropolitan Region)

International Astronomical Institutions in Chile

* Carnegie Observatories
* European Southern Observatory (ESO)
* National Optical Astronomical Observatories (NOAO, USA)
* National Radioastronomical Observatories (NRAO, USA)

Observatories

Existing Facilities

* Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory: NOAO telescopes, SMART consortium, GONG, PROMPT, ALPACA.

* Cerro Pachon Observatory: Gemini Observatory, SOAR Telescope.

* Llano de Chajnantor Observatory: Cosmic Background Imager (CBI), Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX), Q/U Imaging ExperimenT QUIET,

* Pampa La Bola and Purico Complex: Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE), NANTEN2 Observatory

* Paranal Observatory: Very Large Telescope (VLT), Visible & Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA Telescope).

* La Silla Observatory: ESO telescopes,

* Las Campanas Observatory: Carnegie telescopes, Magellan Telescopes, Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network

* Cerro El Roble Observatory

* Nacional Observatory
* Manuel Foster Observatory

Future Facilities

* VLT Survey Telescope to be located at Paranal Observatory.

* Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) to be located at Las Campanas Observatory.

* Atacama Large Millimeter Array to be located in Llano de Chajnantor Observatory

* Thirty Meter Telescope: not confirmed location. Potential sites in Chile are Cerro Armazones (Antofagasta Region), Cerro Tolanchar (Antofagasta Region) and Cerro Tolar (Antofagasta Region).

* European-Extremely Large Telescope: not confirmed location.

* Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) to be located in Cerro Pachon Observatory (El Peñón).

* Overwhelmingly Large Telescope: not confirmed location. Potential sites in Chile are located in Antofagasta region.

Further information on Extremely large telescope.

Light Pollution

* Light Pollution Office [http://www.opcc.cl (OPCC)] : depends on the Comision Nacional de Medio Ambiente (CONAMA) and the international observatories.

* [http://www.ida.cl IDA-Chile] : National section of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA).

Education

"Postgraduate programs"

* Universidad de Chile (Santiago): Master and Doctorate programs in Science with specialization in Astronomy

* Universidad de Concepcion (Concepcion): Master and Doctorate programs in Physical Science with specialization in Astronomy

* Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (Santiago): Master and Doctorate programs in Astrophysics.

"Undergraduate Programs

* Astronomy Bachelor (U. de Chile)

* Astronomy Bachelor (PUC)

* Astronomy Bachelor (U. de Concepcion)

"School Programs"

* CADIAS

* [http://www.astro-udec.cl/ingles/extension_ingles/extension_ingles.htm Education and Outreach] . Astronomy Department, University of Concepcion.

People

Professional Astronomers

In Chile

* [http://www.umce.cl/~fisica/docentes.html#lbarrera Luis Barrera] , (UMCE)
* Hamuy, Mario (U de Chile): supernovae, distance scale, observational cosmology
* [http://www.dfa.uv.cl/~mmora/Site/Marcelo_D._Mora.html Marcelo Mora] , (U. Valparaiso)
* Ramirez, Amelia (U. La Serena): dynamics and evolution of galaxies, galaxy groups and clusters.

Chilean Astronomers overseas

Engineers

* Seguel, Juan (CTIO): site testing of potentian astronomical places.

Amateur Astronomers and Teachers

* Gomez, Arturo: discoverer of the Gomez's Hamburger, a protoplanetary nebula, or a star that is in a state of evolution immediately before the true planetary nebula stage [ [http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2002/19/ "Hubble Astronomers Feast on an Interstellar Hamburger", News Release Number: STScI-2002-19] ] .

* Jimenez, Carmen Gloria: teacher and psycologist working as Educational and Outreach Expert for the Astronomy Department of the Universidad de Concepcion. She is widely known for participating in the NASA's program "Teachers in Space" with chances to visit the Internation Space Station or participate as ground-based support for space missions of teachers. [ [http://www.icarito.cl/medio/articulo/0,0,38035857_165317001_346388809,00.html] "Maestra chilena es la primera latinoamericana que se prepara para ir al espacio", Icarito.]

* Picetti, Battista: physics and astronomy teacher in the Seminario Conciliar de La Serena. He won the Michael Faraday Award for the Best Physics Teacher in 2007. Father Picetti is also the creator of El Tololito (La Serena) and Cerro Mayu Observatory [ [http://www.explora.cl/nuevo/nacional/noticias_ver.php?id=693 Premios EduCiencias: Una vida dedicada a la ciencia y la educación] , web site of Explora-CONYCIT.]

Planetariums

* Planetarium of the Universidad de Santiago (Santiago)
* Gemini's Mobible Planetariums (La Serena)

Publications and Books

* "Supernovas", José Maza, Mario Hamuy.
* "Hijos de las estrellas", Maria Ruiz. ISBN: 9789563040371
* "Mundos lejanos", Dante Minniti.
* "Con ojos de gigantes", Sebastian Lopez, Felipe Barrientos.

Astro-tourism

- Site for Astro-tourism in Chile [http://www.turismoastronomico.cl/]

Astronomy in the Media and News Sites

* [http://www.circuloastronomico Circulo Astronomico]
* [http://www.redastro.cl/ Red Astronomica de Chile] . By Jose Ojeda.

References