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May 27 - June 7
(12 days)
From approx. $5,595 pp/do,
plus airfare and taxes |
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 Join
UA astronomy Professor Chris Impey on an exclusive expedition to the
world-class observatories that crown the mountaintops of Northern
Chile. Explore the area’s spectacularly beautiful Pacific beaches,
deserts, volcanoes, and remnants of ancient civilizations. We’ll go
behind the scenes to meet astronomers who are peering deeper than
ever before into the universe. Through special permission, we’ll see
the amazing telescopes of the Paranal Observatory and the Cerro
Tololo Inter-American Observatory. The tour also will take us to the
Magellan Project at Las Campanas Observatories — the future site of
the Giant Magellan Telescope. Our adventure continues as we travel
to the spectacular Atacama Desert to explore some of the most
extraordinary landscapes in the world — volcanoes, geysers,
evaporated salt lakes, and hot springs. We’ll also view petroglyphs,
ancient pre-Columbian mummies, and artifacts. During the day, we’ll
have opportunities to observe diverse populations of birds and
animals, including Andean flamingos, vicuñas, and viscachas. We’ll
top this off with stargazing in the evenings. Experts will guide us
as we view the pristine desert skies using large amateur telescopes.
Our journey concludes with a festive lunch at a Chilean winery
outside Santiago. For those who are able to spend more time in South
America, there’s an optional posttrip extension to the mysterious
and intriguing Easter Island. You’ll see its tight-lipped, basalt
statutes, and the island’s pitch-dark starry skies will allow for
some amazing stargazing.
Itinerary/Features:
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