Chile’s immense Atacama Desert is one of the sunniest places on Earth. This region is so dry that some areas haven’t had measurable rainfall in more than twenty years! Despite this desolation, lush oases dot the region, allowing life to spring forth. Join Sky & Telescope/Night Sky editor J. Kelly Beatty for a visit to the oasis village of San Pedro de Atacama, at an elevation of almost 2,440 meters (8,000 feet) and at 23° south latitude, the perfect base for our four nights of deep stargazing under extremely dark southern skies. Added to your stargazing will be visits to Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory and the European Southern Observatory’s quartet of 8.2-meter (27-foot) reflectors atop Cerro Paranal — a dream vacation for amateur and experienced astronomers alike!

This 8-day exploration of the skies and desert of northern Chile, May 29–June 4, 2006, will be led by J. Kelly Beatty, editor of Night Sky and Executive Editor of Sky & Telescope. His lectures on deep-sky observing and celestial photography will help stargazers of all levels get the most out of their Chilean adventure.

This is your opportunity to view southern astronomical treasures under arguably the best skies in the world, to see two of the Southern Hemisphere’s premier observatories, and to visit a remarkable assortment of otherworldly landscapes. Space is limited, so make your reservation early!