annee25024 — Announcement

A Day of Discovery and Exploration at AstroDay Chile

4 April 2025

To celebrate National Day of Astronomy on 21 March, NSF NOIRLab and AURA, in partnership with Biblioteca Regional Gabriela Mistral and Proyecto Explora Coquimbo, hosted AstroDay Chile — an entire day packed with family-friendly activities at the Gabriela Mistral Regional Library. Since 2007, AstroDay Chile has been one of the most prominent outreach programs in the Coquimbo region. 

Over 2000 people attended this year’s AstroDay Chile event, where they explored the latest scientific breakthroughs from NOIRLab’s Chile-based observatories and learned about public visit programs. Visitors also connected with experts from other leading observatories, universities, and organizations, such as InnovaSteam, which sparked curiosity about STEAM careers and promoted 21st-century learning and technology.

NOIRLab Astronomers captivated audiences with talks on exciting research happening at the observatories. They highlighted the cutting-edge capabilities of the world’s largest digital camera at NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory located on Cerro Pachón in Chile. This instrument will transform the field of astronomy when it kicks off its decade-long Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) in late 2025. Other speakers immersed visitors in the fascinating world of astronomy, such as Carol Rojas (Las Campanas Observatory), who talked about the great discoveries of the 20th and 21st centuries, and specialists from Optolab, who introduced the new SEETRUE space research observatory.

The day ended with an award ceremony for all those who participated in a contest to win two Galileoscopes and a visit for five people to Mamalluca Observatory in the Elqui Valley.

Contacts

Manuel Paredes 
Outreach Manager Chile
NSF NOIRLab
Email: manuel.paredes@noirlab.edu