Chilean eco-adventure operator explora is currently putting the guides at its Atacama Desert property, Hotel de Larache in San Pedro through an astronomy course which provides intensive theoretical and practical coaching.

Lessons are being conducted at the hotel and the hotels own private astronomical observatory.

Explora chief executive Jesus Parrilla said the sessions were being run by French PhD in astrophysics, Eric Escalera, the director of Chile’s Del Pangue Observatory who was providing extensive tutoring.

Classes include instruction on the use of telescopes, the solar system, asteroids, comets, planetary geology, stellar physics, life and death of the stars, the milky way and other galaxies, dark matters of the universe, astro-photography, cosmological models and extra-terrestrial life, amongst other relevant matters.

Atacama Desert is home to various astronomy activities, the most important being the nearby ALMA astronomical Project on the Chajnator Plateau, located 5000 metres above sea level, just a few miles from the town San Pedro township- it is the largest astronomical project in the world.

Mr Parrilla said, “For many travellers nowadays, visiting Atacama definitely stands for astronomy, therefore, for explora it is only reasonable that all the guides own the adequate skills in this particular subject, in order to instruct travellers.“