NASA Features Stunning Space Photo by Chilean Astrophotographer

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Chilean Astrophotographer Features Paranal Observatory Skies

Osvaldo Castillo Montes has worked professionally in astrophotography for a decade after transitioning from commercial photography, according to coverage by Radio Concierto Chile and ADN.cl. His winning image, titled The Sky Turns Above Paranal, showcases star trails circling the southern celestial pole directly above major scientific infrastructure in northern Chile. ADN.cl notes that the European Southern Observatory previously selected the same photograph as its picture of the week before it reached an international audience through the NASA daily feature established in 1995.

The final composition required precise timing and extensive field preparation in the Atacama Desert. The photography I did during a visit to the Paranal Observatory, where I was invited in October of 2025, Castillo Montes told ADN.cl. I wanted it to also have a very recognizable element of Paranal. I chose one of the auxiliary telescopes and composed the image so that the stars seemed to rotate around the south celestial pole over the telescope.

Technical Setup and Planning for Star Trail Photography

Capturing large-scale astronomical phenomena requires specialized digital tools and rigorous site scouting. Castillo Montes relies on applications like Planit Pro alongside physical tools such as compasses and inclinometers to map out the exact positions of celestial bodies prior to shooting, as reported by ADN.cl. The award-winning frame required capturing more than 300 individual photographs between the night of October 24 and the early morning hours of October 25, 2025.

Equipment details shared with ADN.cl outline a specific hardware configuration utilized during the desert expedition:

• A Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera paired with a Viltrox 24mm lens.
• An intervalometer and a stable tripod to secure continuous exposures.
• Camera settings configured to ISO 800, an aperture of f/1.8, and 25-second exposures for each frame.
• A one-second interval between consecutive shutter activations, resulting in roughly 300 frames blended together for the final star trail effect.

Why the Antofagasta Region Draws Global Astrophotographers

It is difficult to choose just one because Chile has extraordinary places, Castillo Montes noted to ADN.cl regarding the country’s prime viewing locations. Paranal is a very special place for me because it combines that quality of sky with a first-class astronomical infrastructure. And I think that is also part of the beauty of this photography: it not only shows the stars, but also one of the places from where Chile studies the Universe.