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Tuesdays at Ten: The Observatories of Chile
Champaign Public Library
200 West Green Street
Champaign, Illinois 61820
(217) 403-2000
Category
Hours
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In the fall of 2025, Dave Leake was able to visit several mountaintop astronomical observatories in Chile. This travelogue will provide a tour of these facilities, explain why the sky looks different from South America, and shine a light on the current research now being undertaken using the latest technology. In the pursuit of the southern view, Dave also learned some unexpected things about the country itself!
Dave Leake has been studying the night sky since 5th grade. He retired in 2019 as director of the William Staerkel Planetarium, where he performed shows for groups and taught physics and astronomy. He is also co-founder of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society and a Solar System Ambassador.