The best astronomical site in Chile
The perfect site for astronomy
Deep Sky Chile selected a 3-hectare, flat mountaintop at 5,590 ft (1,700 m) to host remote telescopes. The site is entirely free from local light pollution, offers exceptional seeing, and features high-speed internet. With unobstructed, horizon-to-horizon views, your telescope’s slews are never limited by terrain. We continuously build new shared observatories to meet growing demand.
Among the best skies on Earth
Deep Sky Chile lies beneath one of the most stable skies in the world. With an average seeing of ~1 arcsecond, and exceptional nights reaching 0.38 arcseconds, we provide conditions at the forefront of what remote observatories can achieve. This stability enables very high-resolution imaging, unlocking sharper detail and deeper views.
Easy access
Accessible by passenger car all year, the site is located just 1h40 min from Ovalle and 2h30 min from La Serena, making logistics simpler than at extreme remote sites.
And where is it exactly?
Locate the site on Google Earth or download the KMZ file to discover the access road to the observatories and nearby astronomical sites.
Why Rio Hurtado Valley?
We have traveled all over Chile to find the best site to host your telescope. We surveyed skies across Atacama and the Elqui Valley—both with stellar reputations—but observed increased tourism and growing risks of light pollution. Rio Hurtado retains a protected character. Far from urban centers yet accessible, it delivers some of the darkest skies in Chile. We sit under the same sky as Cerro Tololo, Gemini South, and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
Site key benefits
Seeing Conditions
Our long-term average seeing is around 1 arcsecond, reflecting outstanding atmospheric stability. On exceptional nights, we have measured seeing as low as 0.38 arcseconds, enabling extremely high-resolution imaging that rivals the world’s leading professional observatories.
320 Clear Nights per Year
With more than 320 clear nights annually, the Rio Hurtado Valley offers one of the highest rates of usable observing time worldwide. This exceptional reliability means your telescope can collect data almost every night of the year, maximizing productivity and accelerating the results of your projects.
5590 feet (1700m)
At 5,590 feet (1,700 meters) above sea level, our site rises well above the inversion layer and most atmospheric moisture. This altitude provides excellent sky transparency and reduced turbulence, while remaining easily accessible year-round — the ideal balance between sky quality and operational convenience.
Laminar Airflow
The observatories sit on a flat mountaintop, hundreds of feet above the surrounding terrain. With prevailing winds blowing cleanly from the Pacific Ocean and no nearby mountain to disturb them, airflow remains laminar and stable, helping to preserve consistently sharp seeing conditions.
Location
Deep Sky Chile is located in the Rio Hurtado Valley, a region renowned for its astronomical quality. The site is reachable by passenger car throughout the year, just 1h40 from Ovalle and 2h30 from La Serena, ensuring reliable logistics for operations and maintenance without compromising on sky quality.
Dark Skies
The sky brightness ranges from 21.0 to 22.13 mag/arcsec² (DarkSkyLab measurements), placing the site among the darkest in the world. The valley’s geography and low population density protect it from light pollution, ensuring that these exceptional conditions will remain preserved for decades to come.
Video Gallery
A collection of videos to discover the site and the construction of the observatories…