This initiative involves the installation of an educational telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory, owned by Carnegie Science, which will enable advanced research, training for university students, and community activities.
A signing ceremony attended by officials from Carnegie Science and Andrés Bello University sealed a collaboration agreement that will allow UNAB to install an astronomy research and training station at the Las Campanas Observatory (Atacama Region). The so-called “UNAB Training, Research, and Outreach Station” includes the installation of an 18-inch Ritchey-Chrétien reflector telescope with high-precision optics at this observatory.
This telescope will be used in person and remotely by students and researchers from UNAB's Faculty of Exact Sciences, in addition to sharing initiatives and observation time with scientists and visitors to the Observatory.
“The signing of this agreement with Carnegie Science reinforces UNAB's commitment to training highly skilled students, integrating cutting-edge research, innovation, and an educational experience connected to the great challenges of the contemporary world,” said UNAB Rector Julio Castro, adding that “this station will be a privileged space for active learning, allowing students to participate in high-level astronomical projects and develop advanced scientific skills in an environment of excellence and discovery.”
Leopoldo Infante, director of the Las Campanas Observatory, highlighted the interest that this institution, as well as Carnegie Science, has in collaborating with Chilean institutions “to enchant the national public with astronomy and astrophysics and to raise awareness of what is being done in these fields, which are often closed to the public, but which are so interesting.”
In this regard, Leopoldo Infante highlighted Andrés Bello University, “which has a very important astronomy program. It has a large Institute of Astrophysics and many students interested in pursuing careers in this field. It is a university that has shown interest in developing science and especially astrophysics in its classrooms.”
A bridge between research, education, and the community
The UNAB Station will be equipped with a Ritchey-Chrétien reflector telescope, whose primary mirror was manufactured with high precision using a material called Zerodur, which has a very low thermal expansion coefficient and can therefore operate under variable conditions without altering its optics. The primary mirror has an aperture diameter of 18 inches—just under 50 cm—which will allow for the observation of deep sky objects.
This instrument has high-precision optics and includes a set of SLOAN photometric filters mounted on a camera optimized for the visible and infrared spectrum. In addition, it has an intelligent control system that will allow remote operation from other regions of the country, facilitating its integration into teaching, research, and scientific outreach activities.
"This agreement is extraordinary because of the potential impact it will have in multiple areas. It not only benefits UNAB scientists and students, but also science and society," said Matías Gómez, director of the Institute of Astrophysics at UNAB's Faculty of Exact Sciences, adding that having a serious teaching telescope in a first-rate observatory opens up future opportunities for collaborations and visits by Carnegie astronomers, for the exchange of knowledge, and for generating activities with the community. The possibilities arising from this alliance are immense.
The objective of the UNAB station is scientific research through projects mapping active galactic nuclei and exoplanet transits, as well as training students in both the Doctorate in Astrophysics and the Bachelor's Degree in Astronomy. In addition, there are outreach projects, for example, with students from schools in the province of Vallenar, Incahuasi, Cachiyuyo, and Domeyko.
Carolina Torrealba, Vice-Rector for Research and Doctoral Studies at UNAB, emphasized that this agreement “marks the beginning of a collaboration with Carnegie at Las Campanas, not only in terms of research excellence, but also in terms of training and outreach to the community. We are confident that this will be a fruitful partnership that will allow us to expand our international research networks and generate new synergies.”
Clear skies at Las Campanas Observatory
Las Campanas Observatory, part of the Carnegie Observatories, is home to the Swope, du Pont, and Magellan twin telescopes, which are operated by academic consortia such as Harvard, MIT, the University of Arizona, and the University of Michigan. It also hosts a number of collaborative projects, and the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMTO) is currently under construction there, which will become one of the largest telescopes in the world.
Here, under one of the most pristine skies on the planet, the new observational station of the UNAB Institute of Astrophysics will be located, near the Magellan telescopes.
Located in the mountains of the Atacama Desert, on the border between the Atacama and Coquimbo regions, at 2,400 meters above sea level, Las Campanas is distinguished by its exceptional conditions for astronomy. Matías Gómez, director of the UNAB Institute of Astrophysics, explains:
This area has extraordinary geographical characteristics for astronomical observation, not only because of the transparency and darkness of the sky, but also because of the stability of the atmosphere.
One of the biggest limitations to image quality is atmospheric turbulence, which degrades sharpness. “However, in this location, thanks to the geography of the terrain, the air behaves in an almost laminar manner, that is, it flows uniformly and stably. This, combined with the exceptional darkness of the place and the clear skies, makes Las Campanas a unique site for astronomical research.”