Blog
Blog
Stories from the Atacama desert sky: observing guides, the science of the stars and tips for your visit to San Pedro. The articles migrated from the previous site are coming soon.
- How much does a trip to San Pedro de Atacama cost? The prices that are actually published
A cost benchmark with per-row provenance: what the protected-area entrances and the stargazing tour cost, who publishes each figure, and why this article publishes no accommodation or restaurant number at all.
- Is San Pedro de Atacama safe to visit? The real risks, with sources
What official travel advisories actually say about northern Chile, and the risk that really affects visitors to San Pedro de Atacama: altitude. An honest assessment with primary sources and no invented numbers.
- San Pedro de Atacama festivals calendar: what is celebrated, and when
The festivals of San Pedro de Atacama, with the fixed dates separated from the moveable ones and the rule behind each. A year-less calendar: reviewed every season instead of expiring.
- Weather and Moon Phases for Stargazing Tours in Atacama
Weather and Moon Phases for Stargazing Tours in Atacama | Learn how weather conditions and moon phases impact stargazing tours in Atacama. Get tips to prepare and make the most of your astronomy experience.
- What to Wear for Stargazing in the Atacama Desert
What to Wear for Stargazing in the Atacama Desert | Discover the ideal clothing for stargazing in the Atacama Desert. Learn how to dress for comfort, choose colors for stunning photos, and enjoy the best astronomy tour experience.
- Atacama Dark Sky Destination: World's Clearest Skies, by the Data
Atacama's atmospheric data ranks Bortle 1 — the world's darkest. Here's how it compares to Aoraki, NamibRand and Mauna Kea, and what it means for stargazers.
- Atacama vs Tekapo: which is the better stargazing destination?
Atacama vs Tekapo for stargazing — altitude, atmosphere, telescopes, cost. Honest data-driven comparison for southern hemisphere astrotourism.
- Getting Started in Astronomy as an Amateur — Updated Edition
This guide has been updated. Visit the new complete guide on what astronomy is, its branches and curiosities at AtacamaStargazing.
- Photographing Meteor Showers — Updated Edition
This guide has been updated. Visit the new definitive guide to landscape astrophotography at AtacamaStargazing.
- Atacama stargazing tour: what to expect before you book
Before booking an astronomical tour in Atacama, find out what really happens: with the naked eye, through the telescope, and how it changes between seasons.
- Meteor shower this week from the southern hemisphere — May 2026
Eta Aquariids meteor shower is still active through May 28. With new moon May 16, the southern sky reopens — here's what to see this week from Atacama.
- Milky Way Chile May 2026: when and how to see it this week
The Milky Way is visible this week in Chile (May 2026). A guide with exact times, moon phases, and the best viewpoints from San Pedro de Atacama.
- Atacama Stargazing Calendar: What to See in the Sky Each Month
Month-by-month guide to the night sky from San Pedro de Atacama. Visible planets, constellations, meteor showers, and Milky Way visibility from 23°S.
- Best telescope for beginners 2026: complete buying guide
How to choose the best telescope for beginners: types, aperture, mount, and budget. A complete guide with concrete recommendations for every use case.
- Best Time to See the Milky Way in Atacama: Month-by-Month Guide
June and July are the best months to see the Milky Way in Atacama. Learn how moon phases, galactic core position, and season affect visibility from 23°S.
- Landscape astrophotography: technique, gear and best locations
Everything about landscape astrophotography: double exposure technique, equipment, best locations, and why the Atacama Desert is the ultimate destination.
- Milky Way photography settings: ISO, aperture and shutter speed guide
The exact ISO, aperture and shutter speed settings to photograph the Milky Way and night sky. A practical guide for beginner astrophotographers.
- Southern Hemisphere Constellations: A Guide for Northern Travelers
See the Southern Cross, Magellanic Clouds, Omega Centauri, and Scorpius in full for the first time. A northern traveler's guide to the southern sky from Atacama.
- Stargazing Atacama: the complete guide to astronomy tours in Chile
Everything you need to know about stargazing in the Atacama Desert: what to see, when to go, how to book a tour, and why this is the best stargazing destination on Earth.
- What are planets? Definition, types and how many are in the solar system
What planets are, how many exist in the solar system, how they are classified, and what distinguishes them from stars and dwarf planets.
- What is a gas giant? Definition, examples and why they are so large
What a gas giant is, which planets in the solar system are gas giants, what they are made of, and how they compare to rocky planets.
- What is a neutron star? The densest object in the universe explained
What is a neutron star, how it forms from a supernova, what a pulsar is, and how it compares to a black hole. Complete guide to extreme stellar remnants.
- Rocky planet: definition, examples and difference from gas giants
Everything about rocky planets in the solar system: what they are, which ones exist, how they formed, and how they differ from gas giants.
- What is a shooting star? Meteors, meteorites and meteor showers explained
What a shooting star really is, how it differs from a meteorite, and when and where to watch the best meteor showers from the southern hemisphere.
- What is a star? Formation, types and life cycle explained
Discover what a star is, how stars form, how long they live, and what different types exist. A clear astronomy guide with real examples visible from the southern sky.
- What is a telescope? How it works and the main types explained
A concise guide to what a telescope is, how it works, its main parts, and the differences between refractors, reflectors and catadioptric designs.
- What is a white dwarf star? And will the Sun become one?
What a white dwarf is, how it forms, how long it lasts, and why the Sun will eventually become one. A clear explanation of the final stage of stellar evolution.
- Why is Pluto not a planet? The IAU decision explained
The full story of why Pluto was reclassified in 2006: what changed, what the IAU decided, and what a dwarf planet actually is.
- Iconic tours and places in San Pedro de Atacama and its surroundings
So that you don't miss a thing when you come to San Pedro de Atacama, here is an extensive list of some of the wonders this beautiful pre-cordilleran town hides.
- What is a Black Hole?
Imagine that time is not what you knew, that the matter you know cannot exist, that the mathematics and physics we rely on for our lives stop working... You are inside a Black Hole!
- What is a Quasar? The Brightest Object in the Universe — Atacama Stargazing
A quasar is the active nucleus of a galaxy that releases more energy than thousands of suns. Discover why they are the most luminous objects in the universe.
- What is a Red Giant?
Among the many types of stars, Red Giants are some of the rarest and most beautiful jewels we can find deep in space. If you want to know more about them, you are in the right place.
- What is a Supernova?
Do you like dramatic endings? So do the biggest stars. Keep reading to learn more about Supernovae.
- What is Astronomy? Definition, Branches and Facts — Atacama Stargazing
Astronomy studies the universe: stars, planets, galaxies and cosmic phenomena. Discover its branches and why it is one of the oldest sciences.
- How to plan your visit to San Pedro de Atacama during the Altiplanic Winter
We share the best tips to enjoy your holidays in San Pedro de Atacama during the Altiplanic Winter.