Chile boosts scientific outreach with Antarctic planetarium project and Antofagasta astrotourism showcase

The Municipality of Huechuraba and the Instituto Milenio BASE signed a collaboration agreement to develop immersive 360° full‑dome content about Antarctica for the Huechuraba Planetarium. The partnership aims to bring polar research and climate‑change education to the public through realistic audiovisual experiences that depict penguins, scientific equipment and extreme conditions.

In the Antofagasta region, more than 20 public and private institutions, including Sernatur Antofagasta, the University of Antofagasta’s Center for Astronomy (CITEVA) and mining company BHP Escondida, organized the fourth Astronomical Showcase. The event featured talks, interactive activities and promotion of astrotourism, emphasizing the protection of the region’s dark skies. Organizers highlighted the collaborative effort to position the area as a global reference for astronomy, science outreach and tourism.