Las Campanas Observatory
Telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory | |
| Alternative names | LCO |
|---|---|
| Organization | |
| Observatory code | 304, I05 |
| Location | Atacama Region, Chile |
| Coordinates | 29°00′57″S 70°41′31″W / 29.01597°S 70.69208°W |
| Altitude | 2,380 m (7,810 ft) |
| Established | 1969 |
| Website | www |
| Telescopes |
|
| Related media on Commons | |
Las Campanas Observatory (LCO) is an astronomical observatory managed by the Carnegie Institution for Science (CIS). Located in Chile's Atacama Region, it sits about 100 kilometres (62 mi) northeast of the city of La Serena. The LCO's telescopes and facilities are positioned near the northern end of a 7 km (4.3 mi) mountain ridge. Cerro Las Campanas, situated near the southern end of this ridge and standing over 2,500 m (8,200 ft) tall, will be the future site of the Giant Magellan Telescope.
Established in 1969, LCO is CIS's primary observatory, having taken over this role from Mount Wilson Observatory due to increasing light pollution in the Los Angeles area. The headquarters of Carnegie Observatories is in Pasadena, California, while the main office in Chile is in La Serena, close to the University of La Serena and near the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy facility.
The observatory is served by Pelicano Airport, located 23 kilometres (14 mi) to the southwest.