La Silla: The Dawn of Modern Astronomy in Chile

In the barren beauty of Chile’s Atacama Desert, perched at an altitude of 2,400 meters, lies one of the most historic astronomical sites in the southern hemisphere: La Silla Observatory. Surrounded by the vast silence of the desert and endless skies, La Silla is a place where modern astronomy in Chile first began. My journey here was particularly special, as I joined the official photography team for the European Southern Observatory (ESO) to document its telescopes, landscapes, and skies in cinematic detail.

A Legacy of Discovery

La Silla was ESO’s first observatory, inaugurated in the 1960s, and it marked the beginning of Chile’s rise as the world capital of ground-based astronomy. For decades, it was the most advanced observatory in the southern hemisphere, hosting telescopes that provided insights into the cosmos at a time when the skies of the southern hemisphere were still largely unexplored.

Even today, La Silla remains scientifically active and globally significant. It is home to more than a dozen telescopes, many of which have contributed to groundbreaking discoveries in exoplanets, stellar evolution, and cosmology. Being here felt like stepping into a living timeline — where the pioneering spirit of astronomy’s past meets the precision of modern science.

The ESO 3.6-metre and the Search for New Worlds

One of the most famous instruments at La Silla is the ESO 3.6-metre Telescope, which hosts the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) — one of the most successful planet-hunting instruments ever built. HARPS has discovered hundreds of exoplanets, including Earth-like worlds orbiting nearby stars. To stand beside the dome of this telescope, knowing how many “new worlds” have been revealed from this very spot, was deeply inspiring.

The New Technology Telescope (NTT)

Another milestone at La Silla is the New Technology Telescope (NTT), which revolutionized telescope design in the 1980s. With its innovative active optics system and striking architectural design, the NTT became a model for a new generation of telescopes, including ESO’s Very Large Telescope at Paranal. Filming this dome and its distinctive hexagonal silhouette against the backdrop of the desert sky was like capturing a turning point in astronomical history.

The Desert Challenge

As with my other expeditions in Chile, the Atacama Desert itself is both an ally and a challenge. Its dryness and clarity are why La Silla was chosen in the first place: the skies here are among the clearest on the planet. But for those working and filming, the environment is harsh. The air is bone-dry, hydration is a constant concern, and camera gear is continually exposed to fine dust and temperature extremes. Every frame requires both technical care and physical endurance.

Yet, when the sun sets and the first stars pierce the twilight, the hardships fade into awe. The desert transforms into one of the darkest skies imaginable. The Milky Way blazes across the horizon, and the southern constellations reveal themselves in dazzling clarity. These are the moments that make every challenge worthwhile.

Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future

La Silla may not always make the headlines like its larger successors at Paranal or Cerro Pachón, but it remains a pillar of ESO’s legacy and a monument to international collaboration. It was here that Chile began its journey to becoming the world’s astronomy capital, and it continues to inspire new generations of scientists and storytellers alike.

Being part of ESO’s official photography team during this expedition was both an honor and a responsibility. My goal was to capture not just images, but the atmosphere of La Silla — a place where history, science, and the endless sky come together in perfect harmony.