The Miñiques volcano complex near Chajnantor

It might seem surprising that the European Southern Observatory (ESO)’s observatories are actually based in northern Chile in the vast, arid expanse of the Atacama Desert. If one were to drive northward towards San Pedro de Atacama, they would see this view — a mountainous landscape stretching out as far as the eye can see, with strikingly clear skies overhead. This image was taken some 50 kilometres from the Chajnantor plateau, home of the ALMA observatory. The mound directly ahead is the Miñiques volcano complex, which is topped by clouds, seemingly pointing to the cosmos.