Trip Planner: South America / Chile / Coquimbo Region / Vicuna / Mamalluca Observatory

Mamalluca Observatory, Vicuna

3.1

#1 of 12 in Childrens Museums in Chile

Take a cosmic journey with one of the specialized guides at Mamalluca Observatory, where you'll learn about nebulas, star clusters, supernovas, and galaxies before heading on to the observation station. The observatory opened in November 1998 at 1,200 m (3,937 ft) above sea level. Observe the Milky Way, Saturn's rings, and Jupiter's 16 moons through a 30 cm (12 in) telescope in the main dome. Use the smaller telescopes on the terrace to learn to recognize bright stars and different constellations. You'll be amazed with the different shapes and colors when the distant planets appear before your eyes. A bonus if your visit falls on the new moon: the darker the night, the more visible the stars. Services include a diner and a souvenir shop. Put Mamalluca Observatory into our Vicuna journey site to see other points of interest to visit during your vacation in Vicuna.

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Mamalluca Observatory Reviews

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525 reviews

By Andréia D On March 20, 2018

El observatorio cuenta con un turismo masivo ( 25 personas aprox por telescopio),está ubicado muy cerca de la ciudad lo que disminuye en uno 60% la visibilidad de las estrellas y planetas, charlas ext... more »

The Observatory has mass tourism (25 persons approx. by telescope), is located near the city one 60% which lowers the visibility of the stars and planets, talks extremely fast and little interativas. It is if the cheapest what there and promoted pela municipality of Vicuna

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By viajera1968 On March 18, 2018

Our visit to Valle del Elquí was unfortunately timed to the full moon. Mamalluca was one of the only observatories open. We went to reserve our tickets at the municipal building in Vicuña on the same ... more »
By A TripAdvisor Member On March 16, 2018

Hay que reservar hora para el observatorio. Hay que estar en la plaza de Vicuña 10 minutos antes de la hora acordada. Para llegar al observatorio hay dos opciones; (1) en una van de la municipalidad d... more »

You have to book time for the Observatory. It should be in the plaza de vicuña 10 minutes before the agreed time. To get to the Observatory, there are two options; (1) in one go in the municipality of Vicuna (have to pay extra, CLP 3,000) or (2) in particular auto, all depart in caravan following transport of the municipality. When you arrive there is a small talk, then a guide explains a little more about the constellations using a telescope in which some nebulae can be and we finally entered the main telescope and we see another star cluster in greater detail. The experience was excellent, the sky was clear and from the mountain without light pollution the firmament impresses. Recommendation: Guides can be added to the instructions which the participants to silent to listen to the explanations.

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