ann25004 — Announcement

A Universe of Activities at AstroDay Chile

Explore, learn, and celebrate the National Day of Astronomy at the Gabriela Mistral Regional Library in La Serena

10 March 2025

As part of the celebrations of the National Day of Astronomy, NSF NOIRLab, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, and AURA, in partnership with Proyecto Explora Coquimbo, are hosting AstroDay Chile — an entire day packed with family-friendly activities on 21 March at 10:00 a.m. CLST.

AstroDay Chile is an amazing opportunity to discover the latest scientific breakthroughs and advancements from NOIRLab’s Chile-based observatories. It’s also an opportunity to hear about the many public visit programs they offer and how to reserve a free visit to Cerro Pachón and Cerro Tololo. European Southern Observatory (ESO) and Carnegie Science observatories will also be present.

Universities like Universidad de La Serena, Universidad Central, and Universidad Católica de Valparaíso will join the celebration, along with students and academics representing fields related to astronomy. These experts will be available to talk with the public and answer questions from students interested in scientific careers.

This year, InnovaSteam will host various hands-on workshops with an interdisciplinary educational approach. Attendees will engage in collaborative, hands-on learning experiences in a STEAM ecosystem aimed at encouraging science, tech, engineering, arts and math careers and promoting the learning of skills to use 21st century technologies.

Different exhibitors from tourist observatories will join the lineup, such as Mamalluca, Chakana, Collowara, Cruz del Sur and Roan Jasé, along with various organizations related to astronomy and other sciences. Astronomers from NOIRLab will give talks about the work being done at our observatories. They will also talk about the capabilities of the world’s largest digital camera at NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory at Cerro Pachón, Chile, which will transform the field of astronomy when it begins its decade-long Legacy Survey of Space and Time later this year.

There will also be talks that will immerse them in the fascinating world of astronomy from other organizations, such as Carol Rojas (Las Campanas Observatory), who talk about the great discoveries of the 20th and 21st centuries, and specialists from Optolab, who will present the new SEETRUE space research observatory.

The day will end around 8:00 p.m with a spectacular Star Party where visitors will be able to explore the night sky through telescopes, led by experts.

All activities coordinated by NOIRLab are free of charge for AstroDay visitors. This day of astronomy celebration and education is made possible by a partnership with the Gabriela Mistral Regional Library, a perfect place for everyone to attend and be part of this astronomy celebration. Check out the program here.

Everyone who attends will also be able to participate in a contest with incredible prizes just by answering a brief online survey.

AstroDay Chile awaits you!

More information

NSF NOIRLab, the U.S. National Science Foundation center for ground-based optical-infrared astronomy, operates the International Gemini Observatory (a facility of NSF, NRC–Canada, ANID–Chile, MCTIC–Brazil, MINCyT–Argentina, and KASI–Republic of Korea), NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), NSF Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), and NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory (in cooperation with DOE’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory). It is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with NSF and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona.

The scientific community is honored to have the opportunity to conduct astronomical research on I’oligam Du’ag (Kitt Peak) in Arizona, on Maunakea in Hawai‘i, and on Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachón in Chile. We recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence of I’oligam Du’ag (Kitt Peak) to the Tohono O’odham Nation, and Maunakea to the Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) community.