CHILESCOPE

CHILESCOPE is the remote observatory is located in the Chilean Andes at an elevation of 1,560 meters (5,118 feet). Observatory is located in the southern part of the Atacama Desert, some 12.5 miles (20 kilometers) southeast of Cerro Pachon (home to the Gemini South Observatory).[1][2] The mountain upon which the domes are located is actually owned and shared by two observatories: Chilescope and Obstech.[3] The staff of both observatories work closely together.[1]

CHILESCOPE OBSERVATORY
LocationCoquimbo Region, Chile
Coordinates30°28′21.0″S 70°45′47.0″W
Altitude1564 m
Established2015
Websitechilescope.com
Telescopes
Dome 139.4-inch (1 m) Ritchey-Chrétien reflector
Unnamed20-inch (0.5 m) reflector
Unnamed20-inch (0.5 m) reflector

Chilescope was founded by partners Ivan Rubtzov and Sergey Pogrebissky, with the support of astronomer Yuri Beletsky of the Carnegie Institution for Science.

The nearest city with an airport is La Serena and the observatory can be reached in 2.5 hours by car. The nearest major locality is Ovalle.[4]

Equipment
  • 1-meter f/8 ASA Astrosysteme Ritchey-Chrétien with dual-Nasmyth focuses designed by renowned optical engineer Philipp Keller and manufactured by LOMO. The scope resides in a 5.5-meter dome and is borne by a massive direct-drive alt-azimuth mount, also manufactured by ASA.
  • pair of 20-inch (50-cm) ASA Astrosysteme f/3.8 Newtonian astrographs, each riding atop ASA DDM85 direct-drive equatorial mounts and housed in individual 4-meter domes.
  • one private 4-meter dome.
  • dome with retractable roof with three telescopes.

Limitations in the observations

All Chilescope telescopes are limited to observing objects that are at least 30° up.[2] Also, the scopes will not allow you to book imaging time when the Sun is less than 15° below the horizon.

Power and Internet

Due to the remote location of Chilescope, power is provided by a hybrid solar and diesel generator with 70 solar panels on the property, with diesel fuel Cummins (28 kW) only being necessary when the Sun isn’t visible for a day or more, or in the event of a total power disruption. Internet is provided via a radio relay with speeds as high as 30 megabytes per second.

See also

References
  1. Peach, Damian N. (August 2019). "A visit to CHILESCOPE OBSERVATORY". Astronomy: 30–35.
  2. Walker, Sean (December 2018). "Remote Imaging with Chilescope". Sky & Telescope: 58–61.
  3. Matt Dieterich (27 March 2020). "Telescope Hosting at ObsTech in Chile (Observatorio El Sauce)". YouTube. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. "CHILESCOPE". chilescope.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
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