One look into that telescope and I was in love with her, la Luna, the moon, that beautiful nighttime goddess that shines light into the darkness each evening.

I don’t know what I expected. I shouldn’t have been so surprised, but still, the clarity of the moonscape was brilliant.

Note: The Atacama Desert in Chile is one of the best places to stargaze, due to having very clear skies and low light pollution. Depending on how much moon is reflecting the sun’s rays, you can see deep into the universe. On our night, the moon was half, so we could see many stars, but not the Milky Way in detail.

Tip: The desert gets cold at night, so bring warm clothes, snacks, and your iPhone. It will serve two purposes: you can use the flashlight to make sure you don’t take a header while walking around, since it’s very dark; and also, you can take photos through the telescope, which come out shockingly excellent.

If you are in the area, a visit to one of the observatories is a must.

We went to this one:

For more information: Observatorio Turístico Mamalluca