Atacama Cosmology Telescope

#108 among destinations in Chile

Observatories and planetariums

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Facts and practical information

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope is a six-meter diameter telescope located on Cerro Toco in the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile, near the Llano de Chajnantor Observatory. ACT makes high-sensitivity, high-resolution, microwave-wavelength surveys of the sky in order to study the cosmic microwave background radiation, the relic radiation left by the Big Bang process. At an altitude of 5,190 metres, it is one of the highest permanent, ground-based telescopes in the world. ()

Alternative names: Coordinates: 22°57'31"S, 67°47'16"W

Location

AntofagastaChile

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Day trips

Atacama Cosmology Telescope – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Purico complex, Atacama Pathfinder Experiment, Llano de Chajnantor Observatory, University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory.

2.5 miE
Nature, Natural attraction, Volcano
Purico complex
64 min walk • The Purico complex is a Pleistocene volcanic complex in Chile close to Bolivia, formed by an ignimbrite, several lava domes and stratovolcanoes and one maar.
4.7 miSE
Park
Atacama Pathfinder Experiment
121 min walk • The Atacama Pathfinder Experiment is a radio telescope 5,064 meters above sea level, at the Llano de Chajnantor Observatory in the Atacama desert in northern Chile, 50 km east of San Pedro de Atacama built and operated by 3 European research institutes.
4.9 miSE
Observatories and planetariums
Llano de Chajnantor Observatory
125 min walk • Llano de Chajnantor Observatory is the name for a group of astronomical observatories located at an altitude of over 4,800 m in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
3.5 miSE
Observatories and planetariums
University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory
89 min walk • The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on the summit of Cerro Chajnantor, at an altitude of 5,640 m within a lava dome in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
5.5 miE
Observatories and planetariums
Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment
140 min walk • The Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment is a 10-meter-diameter antenna built by Mitsubishi Electric as a preprototype for ALMA. The ASTE was deployed to its site on Pampa La Bola, near Cerro Chajnantor and the Llano de Chajnantor Observatory in northern Chile.
1.4 miN
Nature, Natural attraction, Volcano
Cerro Toco
36 min walk • Cerro Toco is a stratovolcano located in the eastern part of the Atacama desert in Chile's II Region, approximately 6 km south of the border between Bolivia and Chile and 12 km SE of the Juriques and Licancabur volcanoes.
~110 ftE
Observatories and planetariums
Simons Observatory
1 min walk • The Simons Observatory is located in the high Atacama Desert in Northern Chile inside the Chajnator Science Preserve, at an altitude of 5,200 meters. The Atacama Cosmology Telescope and the Simons Array are located nearby and these experiments are currently making observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background.
5.5 miE
Observatories and planetariums
NANTEN2 Observatory
141 min walk • The NANTEN2 Observatory is a southern sky observatory in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. It is located at an altitude of 4,800 m on Pampa la Bola next to Cerro Chajnantor.
1.2 miNE
Natural attraction, Mountain, Volcano
Cerro Toco
30 min walk • Cerro Toco is a stratovolcano located in the eastern part of the Atacama desert in Chile's II Region, approximately 6 km south of the border between Bolivia and Chile and 12 km SE of the Juriques and Licancabur volcanoes.