Cerro Pachón

Cerro Pachón (Spanish for "Pachón hill") is a mountain located close to Chilean city of Vicuña and 10 km southeast of the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, at an altitude of 2,715 m over the sea level in the foothills of the Andes. The location is exceedingly dry, making it suitable for infrared observations. The air overhead is very stable, yielding excellent seeing. During the summer months, Cerro Pachón is often above the haze layer that can envelop lower altitudes.

Map of Cerro Pach%C3%B3n, Vicu%C3%B1a, Coquimbo Region, Chile

There are currently two telescopes commissioned on Cerro Pachón, Gemini South and the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope. A third, the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, is under construction.