Magellan Observatories

The twin Magellan Baade and Clay 6.5 meter telescope enclosures, located at Las Campanas in Chile, is a cost effective and efficient enclosure design providing the telescopes a thermally stable and protected environment. Both enclosures are linked via a coudé tunnel and an auxiliary building which houses the mirror aluminizing equipment.

The enclosures are based on a traditional octagonal shape dome with large ventilation openings providing a well ventilated environment. Both the windscreen and moon roof along with a well insulated dome provides added protection and minimizes dome seeing.

The twin Magellan Observatories have the well-deserved reputation for superb image quality and cost effective operations. Beginning with a proven, traditional dome type and improving it with sound design principles and state of the art systems makes this observatory one of the best in its class.