Why Atacama for Stargazing in 2026?
The Atacama Desert in northern Chile offers some of the clearest, darkest skies on Earth. San Pedro de Atacama sits at 2,400 meters elevation with 312 operational nights per year and Bortle Class 1-2 darkness—the darkest classification possible.
2026 brings exceptional opportunities: a total lunar eclipse visible from South America, the Perseids meteor shower under perfect new moon conditions, and Jupiter at opposition in January—one of the best planetary viewing events of the decade.
Best Stargazing Dates in 2026
The key to great stargazing is timing your visit around the new moon, when the sky is darkest. Here are the optimal windows for each month:
| Month | New Moon | Best Window | Special Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Jan 18 | Jan 15-21 | ⭐ Jupiter at Opposition (Jan 10) |
| February | Feb 17 | Feb 14-20 | Annular Solar Eclipse (Arctic) |
| March | Mar 18 | Mar 15-21 | 🌑 Total Lunar Eclipse (Mar 3) |
| April | Apr 17 | Apr 14-20 | Lyrids Meteor Shower (Apr 22) |
| May | May 16 | May 13-19 | Blue Moon (May 31) |
| June | Jun 15 | Jun 12-18 | Winter Solstice (best Milky Way) |
| July | Jul 14 | Jul 11-17 | 🌌 Peak Milky Way Season |
| August | Aug 12 | Aug 9-15 | ⭐ Perseids + New Moon! |
| September | Sep 11 | Sep 8-14 | Partial Lunar Eclipse (Sep 7) |
| October | Oct 10 | Oct 7-13 | Orionids Meteor Shower |
| November | Nov 9 | Nov 6-12 | Supermoon (Nov 24) |
| December | Dec 1 | Nov 28 - Dec 4 | ⭐ Geminids (Dec 13-14) |
Month-by-Month Astronomy Calendar
Rating: EXCEPTIONAL — Jupiter at opposition makes this one of the best months of 2026 for planetary observation.
What You'll See
Jupiter will appear larger and brighter than at any other time in 2026. Through our Unistellar eVscope telescope, you'll observe the Great Red Spot, cloud bands, and all four Galilean moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. The Orion Nebula is perfectly positioned for deep-sky photography.
Rating: EXCEPTIONAL — Total lunar eclipse visible from Chile!
🌒 Total Lunar Eclipse - March 3, 2026
The Moon will pass through Earth's shadow, turning deep red—the famous "Blood Moon" effect. Visible in its entirety from San Pedro de Atacama. Eclipse begins at approximately 01:30 local time (Chile Summer Time), with totality lasting about 58 minutes. This is the only total lunar eclipse of 2026 visible from South America.
Rating: EXCEPTIONAL — Peak Milky Way season in the Southern Hemisphere.
What You'll See
The Milky Way's galactic center reaches its highest point in the sky during Chilean winter. From Atacama's Bortle 1-2 locations, the Milky Way casts visible shadows on the ground. The Carina Nebula, Southern Cross, Alpha Centauri system, and Magellanic Clouds are all perfectly positioned. Temperatures are cold (0-10°C at night) but the seeing conditions are the best of the year.
Rating: EXCEPTIONAL — Perseids meteor shower coincides with new moon—perfect conditions!
☄️ Perseids Meteor Shower - August 12-13, 2026
This is the best Perseids viewing opportunity in years. The peak falls on the exact night of the new moon, meaning zero moonlight interference. Expect 60+ meteors per hour from a dark location. While the Perseids radiant is lower in southern latitudes, the exceptional darkness of Atacama more than compensates—you'll see more meteors here than from most Northern Hemisphere locations with light pollution.
Rating: EXCELLENT — Geminids meteor shower, though moonlight will be a factor.
The Geminids are typically the most prolific meteor shower of the year, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour. In 2026, the waxing crescent moon sets early, leaving excellent dark sky conditions for the peak nights. Summer in Atacama means comfortable temperatures (15-25°C at night) and good weather stability.
2026 Moon Phases Calendar (Chile Time)
All times are in Chile Standard/Summer Time. Plan your visit during the "dark window" (3-4 days before and after new moon) for optimal deep-sky viewing.
| Month | 🌑 New Moon | 🌕 Full Moon | Best Dark Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18 | 3 (Supermoon) | Jan 15-21 |
| February | 17 | 12 | Feb 14-20 |
| March | 18 | 14 | Mar 15-21 |
| April | 17 | 12 | Apr 14-20 |
| May | 16 | 12, 31 (Blue) | May 13-19 |
| June | 15 | 11 | Jun 12-18 |
| July | 14 | 10 | Jul 11-17 |
| August | 12 | 9 | Aug 9-15 |
| September | 11 | 7 | Sep 8-14 |
| October | 10 | 6 | Oct 7-13 |
| November | 9 | 24 (Supermoon) | Nov 6-12 |
| December | 1, 31 | 23 (Supermoon) | Nov 28-Dec 4, Dec 28-Jan 3 |
Top Deep-Sky Objects Visible from Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama's latitude (23°S) provides access to both southern hemisphere exclusives and many northern favorites. Here's what you can observe with professional equipment:
Southern Hemisphere Exclusives
| Object | Type | Best Months | Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Magellanic Cloud | Galaxy | Nov-Mar | Naked eye |
| Small Magellanic Cloud | Galaxy | Oct-Feb | Naked eye |
| Omega Centauri | Globular Cluster | Mar-Aug | Naked eye |
| Carina Nebula | Emission Nebula | Jan-Jul | Binoculars |
| Southern Cross | Constellation | Year-round | Naked eye |
| Alpha Centauri | Star System | Year-round | Naked eye |
| Tarantula Nebula | Emission Nebula | Oct-Feb | Telescope |
| 47 Tucanae | Globular Cluster | Sep-Jan | Naked eye |
Deep-Sky Highlights (Telescope Required)
| Object | Type | Best Months |
|---|---|---|
| Orion Nebula (M42) | Emission Nebula | Dec-Mar |
| Andromeda Galaxy (M31) | Spiral Galaxy | Sep-Dec |
| Sombrero Galaxy (M104) | Spiral Galaxy | Mar-Jun |
| Centaurus A (NGC 5128) | Galaxy | Mar-Jul |
| Jewel Box Cluster | Open Cluster | Apr-Sep |
| Lagoon Nebula (M8) | Emission Nebula | May-Sep |
What Makes Atacama Dark Sky Different
🔭 Professional-Grade Equipment
We use a Unistellar eVscope 2 (valued at $5,000 USD)—a smart telescope with Enhanced Vision technology that reveals nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters in real-time color. Unlike traditional telescopes, you'll see deep-sky objects as vivid, colorful images, not faint gray smudges.
📍 Exclusive Dark Sky Locations
We operate from Vallecito and other private locations rated Bortle Class 1-2—darker than most professional observatories. Light pollution from San Pedro (15km away) is undetectable at our observation sites.
👥 Small Group Experience
Maximum 6 guests per tour ensures personalized attention, unrushed telescope time, and intimate stargazing. Most competitors pack 15-20 people into their tours.
📸 Professional Astrophotography
Every guest receives edited astrophotography images of galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters captured during your tour. These are publication-quality images you can share and print.
Ready to Experience the Darkest Skies on Earth?
Book your 2026 stargazing tour in San Pedro de Atacama
View Tours & AvailabilityPlanning Your Trip
Best Time to Visit
For Milky Way photography: May-August (Chilean winter). The galactic center is highest in the sky, and humidity is at its lowest. Nights are cold but exceptionally clear.
For comfortable weather + good skies: March-April or September-October. Moderate temperatures with excellent visibility.
For meteor showers: August 2026 is exceptional—Perseids peak during new moon.
Getting Here
Fly to Calama Airport (CJC), then take a 1.5-hour transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. Direct flights available from Santiago (SCL), and connections from Lima, Buenos Aires, and other South American cities.
Where to Stay
San Pedro de Atacama has accommodations ranging from hostels ($20-40/night) to luxury lodges ($300+/night). For stargazing, choose lodging away from the town center to minimize light exposure before your tour.
Last Updated: December 22, 2025 | Data sources: NASA, U.S. Naval Observatory, International Astronomical Union