Before your visit
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The tour of the Observatory
People visiting Las Campanas Observatory will enjoy a day tour of the Carnegie Institution for Science telescopes. This can include: Swope telescope (40 inches), du Pont telescope (100 inches), and Magellan telescopes (6.5 meters). The telescopes visited on each tour will depend on the availability and the number of people in each group. Please take into account that this is a research facility, and astronomers, engineers, and technicians have priority in the use of telescopes. Visitors are not allowed overnight.
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Visit schedule, duration, and number of people
| Days | Time | Tour duration | Max. number of people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesdays and Thursdays | 11AM and 1PM | 1.5 to 2 hours | 10 people |
For bigger groups, schools, and press, please read the "Special Reservations" section.
LCO tours are completely free. Since we are a non-profit Institution, we do not book tours for companies or tour operators that do charge for their servicies.
The Observatory is not allowed to offer meals for visitors. Please bring enough water and snacks.
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Visit requirements
Visitors must arrive to our facilities in their own vehicle, and the assigned driver must have a valid license. The road up the mountain is not paved, but is in good condition, so no restrictions apply to the type of vehicle.
Potential visitors must read our Health and Safety Instructions.
Book a tour
In you wish to book a tour for a maximum of 10 people, please fill our Google Form. After receiving your request, we will confirm your visit by phone or email, according to your marked preference.
Special reservations
For large groups (over 10 people), schools, journalists, and other special visits, please contact our Communications and Outreach officer, Carol Rojas.
Instructions for confirmed bookings
Once your visit is confirmed, and after reading our Health and Safety Instructions, every member of the visiting group must sign our Liability Waiver and send it by e-mail to Carol Rojas.
The day of your visit, you will be handed a GPS at the traffic control point. This device will register your speed. We ask our visitors to respect the speed limits indicated on the road to prevent accidents.
Please arrive at the meeting point at the Horace Babcock Hotel on time for your tour. Consider a total driving time of 2.5 hours from La Serena to the Observatory.
Contact Information
For inquiries related to visits and tours, please contact:
Carol Rojas
Communications and Outreach Officer
+56 51 2207316
crojas@carnegiescience.edu