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EXPLAINED: Atacama desert - The Real Truth

10 darkest regions on Earth where you can get the clearest views of planets, stars and the Milky Way

In a world increasingly illuminated by artificial light, truly dark skies have become a rare treasure. According to researchers, more than 80% of the global population now lives under light-polluted skies, making it difficult to see anything beyond the brightest stars from many urban areas. Yet a handful of remote…

The Times of India

Rare dusting of snow covers one of the driest places on Earth and shuts down massive radio telescope — Earth from space

A satellite photo from July shows intricate snowy stripes painted across the Atacama Desert in Chile. The icy weather temporarily put the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observatory into "survival mode."

LiveScience

Giant 'X' appears over Chile as 2 celestial beams of light cross: Space photo of the week

The bright band of the Milky Way and the faint glow of "zodiacal light" meet above the mountains of Chile's Atacama Desert in this stunning night sky photo.

LiveScience

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Rare sight from space: Snow dusts the dry Atacama Desert | Space photo of the day for July 23, 2025

The Atacama Desert in Chile recently received some snowfall, causing issues for the ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) telescope.

Space

Rare snowfall in Atacama Desert forces the world's most powerful radio telescope into 'survival mode'

The ALMA radio telescope array in the Atacama Desert temporarily halted operations after a rare snowfall blanketed the base camp last week.

Space

Rare snowfall in Atacama Desert forces the world's most powerful radio telescope into 'survival mode'

The ALMA radio telescope array in the Atacama Desert temporarily halted operations after a rare snowfall blanketed the base camp last week.

LiveScience

Protecting darkness in Atacama desert

Light pollution is threatening the future of astronomy. Can a new nationwide lighting standard make a difference?

Salon

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Hidden 'biosphere' of extreme microbes discovered 13 feet below Atacama Desert is deepest found there to date

Researchers have found microbes thriving 13 feet beneath the scorched surface of Chile's Atacama Desert, marking the deepest discovery of microbial life in the region to date.

LiveScience

The Milky Way lights up the 'Valley of the moon' in magical new night sky photo

The European Southern Observatory shared a mesmerizing new photo of the Milky Way shining above Valle de la Luna, meaning "Valley of the Moon," in Chile's Atacama Desert.

Space

Chile's Atacama Desert is the sunniest spot on Earth, catching as many rays as Venus

Scientists have identified Earth's sunniest spot, and it has the same radiation as Venus.

LiveScience

There could be alien life on Mars, but will our rovers be able to find it?

Robotic rovers are currently exploring the surface of Mars. Part of a rover’s mission is to survey the planet for signs of life. There might be nothing to find – but what if there is, and the rovers just can’t “see” it?

The Conversation

Globe trotter with Parkinson's determined to tick off bucket list on mobility scooter

John Hinton, from North Ferriby, East Yorkshire, has travelled to Chile and the Atacama Desert, Easter Island, South Africa, Russia, Iceland, India and Canada since being diagnosed with Parkinson's

Daily Mirror

2022 Dainese Expedition Masters Takes On The Atacama Desert

Dainese showcases its 2022 Expedition Masters series with a video recap of its 10-day, 2,500 km (1,553 miles) Atacama Desert road trip.

RideApart

Pack Of Porsche 911 Safaris Finish Epic 6,800-Mile South American Trip

The cars visited Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, the Atacama Desert, and the Uyuni Salt Flats – the world's largest.

Motor1

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Daily Mirror

Brit astronomer Tom Marsh missing in Chilean desert confirmed dead after body found

Warwick University Professor Tom Marsh, 60, went missing on September 16 while working at La Silla observatory, in Chile's Atacama Desert

Evening Standard

Body found in Chile in search for missing British academic Tom Marsh

The 60-year-old went missing on September 16 while working at La Silla observatory, which is located on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert in Chile

Daily Mirror

Body found in hunt for Brit astronomer Tom Marsh missing in Chilean desert

A body has been found in rocky terrain in the search for missing Professor Tom March who was working at La Silla observatory on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert in Chile

Daily Mirror

Police question graduate who travelled with missing Brit professor last seen in desert

Chilean police confirmed this weekend Tom Marsh had not travelled alone to the observatory on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert, where he had been working as a visiting astronomer

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WEKU

In Chile's desert lie vast reserves of lithium — key for electric car batteries

Chile is part of a South American region known as the "lithium triangle," where miners are trying to meet skyrocketing demand for the material.

Daily Mirror

Huge search launched for Brit university astronomer missing for seven days in Chile

Thomas Marsh, an astrophysicist at the University of Warwick, went missing seven days ago near an astronomical observatory on the edge of the Atacama Desert, where he was working

Daily Mirror

Major police hunt for missing Brit scientist last seen 6 days ago in desert

Thomas Richard Marsh was working near the astronomical observatory on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert in Chile when he was last seen six days ago, police say

People

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University of Warwick

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Warwick University

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the European Southern Observatory

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Smith College

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