Southern Night Sky Revealed: Chile's Atacama Desert (Photos)

1 of 7

Atacama Dusk

Credit: Clara Moskowitz/SPACE.com

SPACE.com reporter Clara Moskowitz traveled to Chile's Atacama Desert in March 2013 on a trip sponsored by the U.S. National Radio Astronomy Observatory. This view shows the desert stretching out behind a radio antenna at the site of the new ALMA observatory (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array).

2 of 7

Southern Stars

Credit: Clara Moskowitz/SPACE.com

The stars shine bright and clear above the small desert oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama in Chile's northern desert region.

3 of 7

Large Magellanic Cloud

Credit: Clara Moskowitz/SPACE.com

One of the most arresting sights in the Southern Hemisphere sky is the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way that appears as a bright cloudy smudge on the sky.

4 of 7

The Southern Cross

Credit: Clara Moskowitz/SPACE.com

The Southern Cross, officially known as Crux, is the Southern Hemisphere's most famous constellation.

5 of 7

Milky Way over Chile

Credit: Clara Moskowitz/SPACE.com

The bright ribbon of the Milky Way shines clearly over Chile's San Pedro de Atacama, with the Large Magellanic Cloud glowing in the lower right corner.

6 of 7

Orion in the South

Credit: Clara Moskowitz/SPACE.com

Some familiar constellations seen from the Northern Hemisphere, such as Orion the Hunter, are also visible from the Southern Hemisphere. In the north, Orion is a winter constellation, but it was summer in Chile when this photo was taken.

7 of 7