THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR TRIP I look back on this evening, and all I can think of is WOW. We saw things that we didn’t think were possible (planets at daytime, for instance!) and of course, when the Sun went down the (celestial) magic exploded. Saturn’s Rings, Jupiter and its Moons, star clusters, binary stars… the list goes on. Damaso’s passion really comes through. You’ll get the best on-hand astronomy lessons with a knowledgeable, enthusiastic astronomer who reminds me of Galileo. (In fact, we joked that he was his reincarnation!) If you are a fan of astronomy, simply enjoy beautiful stargazing, or would like to enjoy an extraordinary evening gazing up at the night sky, wondering about our place in the universe, then DEFINITELY plan on visiting Observatorio Astronomico Cielos Chilenos!

So I did not have anything to do with setting up the reservation at Dámaso's observatory as this was my friend's idea and so I was more focused on what other things we could plan out for our short stay in Santiago. That being said, this was one of my favorite things we got to do in Chile. Pulling into the gated community and seeing through to Dámaso's property was really awe-inspiring. The manicured lawn and garden, the impressive stand alone salon filled with astronomy texts, telescopes, and astronomical images welcomed us in along with the astronomer himself and his adorable dogs. From there we jumped right into things observing visible stars in the still bright dusk sky on Dámaso's impressive collection of telescopes. During a delay due to some poorly timed cloud cover, we returned to the salon for refreshments and conversation. I am still an intermediate Spanish-speaker, but our host was both patient and eager to discuss broad astronomical and metaphysical topics as his fascination with cosmology informs and strengthens his own religious beliefs. Dámaso is easily one of the more fascinating people I have ever had the pleasure to become acquainted with. After checking on the sky's clarity we again checked numerous celestial bodies in the now darkened sky, finishing with amazing views of the nearly full moon. I highly recommend visiting this observatory for those interested in learning more about astronomy or have never had the opportunity to explore the heavens with high magnification telescopes. Getting out to the property was a bit of an adventure as it's on the outskirts of the metro area, so be sure to plan enough time going out to arrive on time, and, be sure to have an idea about how you're going to get back to your lodgings after. Should be between a 30 to 45 minute cab ride, approx. 14 to 18k pesos

I can't thank Damas enough for his time, his knowledge, his passion and his patience during our time together. The whole experience ​​was the highlight of the 15+ days we spent in the area. We were welcome like family and started out during the daylight hours observing Mars, Sirius, and a few prominent other stars that are visible during the daytime hours. We then proceeded into a very beautiful modern design indoor/outdoor structure (3 sides glass) where we were invited to enjoy his hospitality. There were Chilean wines, Chilean cheese, panini's, fruit drinks and snacks while Damas showed us on a large flat screen some of the more significant finds he's made that he captured on his telescopes. The amazing thing to me about the whole experience is Damas can talk to anyone of any skill level about what you're seeing and try to help you understand it. I can't emphasize enough how his passion for astronomy becomes yours as you visit. We then returned to the telescopes to view many more stars both through the telescopes directly and also through telescopes in his two observatory domes. He has so much equipment that no one was left waiting, as he kept us all engaged in stargazing during the entire time we visited. Damas is also is obviously an accomplished artist/sculptor. Some of Damas' sculptures are placed around the property as well. Many are astronomy related while others you see the bonds he has with his family. He's truly a renaissance man that I greatly admired in every sense. You see the passion in his eyes when he talks. I thank you sir for sharing your passion with us. Your knowledge and ability to teach anyone from a novice to an expert made it an extraordinary visit that I will never forget.

We had the most amazing time here with Damaso. His passion for astronomy was infectious. We have little knowledge of astronomy but that was not a problem. Damaso made sure we understood and had so much patience. He help me to take some amazing photos through many of his telescopes. Great hospitality, relaxed and just a great social evening too. Could have spent the entire night star gazing. This was our last night in Chile and we couldn’t have spent the evening anywhere better. Thank you.

For people new to the starry night the host prepares a "buffet" with many telescopes, each pointing to a different object. You can take as long as you want, go back, and so on. I have been an amateur astronomer for 20 years and came to Chile with a list of things a wanted to see (and a small telescope of my own). This visit was an extra chance for me to look with a bigger instrument than I could carry on a plane and I am very happy that I took it. The host went through my list (and then some), switched eyepieces, filters, ... on request. We had an excellent time. In the end we had a drink and a snack with his lovely family inside the home. For me this has been the best part of my trip to Chile so far.