Leoncito Astronomical Complex, Astronomical observatory in El Leoncito National Park, Argentina.
The Leoncito Astronomical Complex is a research facility located inside El Leoncito National Park in San Juan Province, sitting at 2552 meters above sea level. It houses several telescopes, including the Jorge Sahade telescope, which has a mirror measuring 2.15 meters across.
Argentina's National Council for Scientific and Technical Research founded the observatory in 1983, and it began regular operations in September 1986. The mountain site was chosen because the dry climate and high altitude reduce the interference that clouds and humidity cause for telescopes.
The complex attracts thousands of visitors annually who participate in educational programs, joining daytime tours or evening observation sessions. Guests can experience astronomy firsthand and learn how scientists use these tools to study the night sky.
Researchers who want to use the telescopes need to submit a proposal to an access committee, while general visitors can join guided tours of the site. Tours run during the day and in the evening, offering a look at the instruments and how the facility works.
The site records more than 250 cloudless nights per year, which is rare even among high-altitude observatories in South America. The telescopes can also be operated remotely, so scientists at other institutions can run observations without traveling to the site.
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