Snow-Clad SOAR Telescope in Chile: Space Photo of the Day – July 14, 2025

Fast Summary

• A rare unexpected frost covered the high-altitude peaks of Cerro Pachón in Chile, dusting the SOAR Telescope with snow.
• The SOAR Telescope, initiated in 1987 by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is used for optical and near-infrared astronomy. It is managed by an international consortium including Brazil, Chile, Michigan State University, and UNC.
• Nearby on Cerro Pachón is the Gemini South telescope that also focuses on visible and infrared wavelengths.
• The snowfall is attributed to a rare winter storm sweeping across the Atacama Desert – known as one of Earth’s driest regions.
• While SOAR sustained minimal disruption from light snow coating its observatory, ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) operations were suspended due to more severe weather conditions lower down.

!A telescope sits on a cliff covered in snow
The SOAR Telescope overlooking a snow-covered landscape.
(Image credit: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/F. Bruno)

Indian Opinion Analysis

India’s scientific community may find this incident intriguing as it underscores how extreme weather events can influence cutting-edge research facilities globally. Such disruptions highlight vulnerabilities faced by remote astronomical sites relying heavily on specific environmental conditions for optimal operations. Given India’s growing commitment to space exploration through ISRO and other projects like AstroSat or future telescope missions planned under international collaborations, learning about robust contingency plans implemented abroad could prove beneficial.

Additionally, India’s hill stations or scientific outposts in higher altitudes might encounter similar challenges due to evolving climate patterns. This reinforces the importance of designing durable systems capable of withstanding variable climatic impacts without compromising critical data collection or operational efficiency.

Read More: Space.com – Snow Covers the SOAR Telescope