The Atacama Astronomical Park: a place to focus on science

Cesar Ocampo; Luis Chavarria; Pablo Pistoia

doi:10.1117/12.2561044

13 December 2020 The Atacama Astronomical Park: a place to focus on science

Cesar Ocampo, Luis Chavarria, Pablo Pistoia

Proceedings Volume 11445, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes VIII; 1144535 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2561044
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2020, Online Only

Conference Poster

Abstract

In the Antofagasta Region in northern Chile the large plateau of Chajnantor, located at more than four thousand meters of altitude, has exceptionally clear skies due to the low humidity in the area, allowing for observations in the sub-/millimeter, infrared and optical ranges. In addition, both its easy access through the international road of Paso Jama and its relative isolation from urban centers, make this area an ideal place for astronomical observations. It is in this area where the Atacama Astronomical Park (AAP) is installed, an initiative that seeks to transform the region into a window to the Universe. The AAP is managed by the non-profit Atacama Astronomical Park Foundation, whose board of directors has the power to directly grant an installation permit to projects that present meritorious applications. After some years of operations of astronomical projects at the Park, the AAP is now moving forward with its vision of an integrated support on enabling infrastructure, so the current and future observatories can focus on their core business: to produce Science. The Park identified key strategic areas of support, namely: communications via fiber optics, centralized power solutions, improvement of the access roads, and a corresponding health, safety and security plan. This paper presents the AAP and describes the progress to fulfill the strategic vision of the Atacama Astronomical Park.

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Citation Download Citation

Cesar Ocampo, Luis Chavarria, and Pablo Pistoia "The Atacama Astronomical Park: a place to focus on science", Proc. SPIE 11445, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes VIII, 1144535 (13 December 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2561044

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