Chilean travel

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is situated high on the Chajnantor plateau in the Chilean Andes. As does the ESO Paranal site, home to the la Residencia hotel and the Very Large Telescope (VLT). Exceptionally arid with incredibly little rainfall, and very isolated to avoid light pollution, the pay-off for these challenging locations is superb viewing conditions and high quality observations. The photographer, ESO Photo Ambassador, Heiko Sommer, took this image whilst flying over the Andes.