Cerro Pachón
| Cerro Pachón | |
|---|---|
The SOuthern Astrophysical Research Telescope (SOAR) and Gemini South telecopes on Cerro Pachón as seen from Cerro Tololo in June of 2006. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,682 m (8,799 ft) |
| Coordinates | 30°14′16.41″S 70°44′01.11″W / 30.2378917°S 70.7336417°W |
| Geography | |
| Country | Chile |
Cerro Pachón is a mountain in central Chile, located east of the city of La Serena in the Coquimbo Region. The mountain is seismically active. It is the site of the 8.1 m Gemini South Telescope of the Gemini Observatory, and the 4.1 m SOAR optical imager. As of 2020, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory is being constructed at this site.
The mountain site has arid, desert conditions with cacti, shrubs, and wildflowers dotting the landscape. It is host to fauna that include Andean condor, viscachas, and the occasional fox, as well as typical desert species such as lizards, snakes, spiders, and scorpions.