This project was carried out through an agreement between the United States Air Force Academy, the Physics Department of the University of La Serena and the Mamalluca Observatory of the Municipality of Vicuña.

A new telescope is now available at the Cerro Mamalluca Observatory that will give new impetus to this municipal space oriented towards astronomical tourism, since it is a scientific telescope that is linked to a global network to study space debris and the various aspects of astronomy.

This project was carried out through an agreement between the United States Air Force Academy - through the Office of Aerospace Research and Development of Latin America (SOARD) - the Department of Physics of the University of La Serena and the Mamalluca Observatory of the Illustrious Municipality of Vicuña.

This agreement aims to work jointly with the Falcon Telescope Network (FTN), which is a global network of small aperture telescopes, used mainly for the collection of satellite observations and characterization, and also for astronomical research in the that collaborators around the world partner with educational institutions.

The inauguration of this new telescope was attended by Mayor Rafael Vera; the director of Human Resources of the University of La Serena, Héctor Bugueño, representing the Rector, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés; the academic and astronomer of the ULS Department of Physics, Dr. Amelia Ramírez; United States Air Force Academy physics professor Frances Chun; the representative of the United States Embassy, ​​Katty Maldonado; United States Air Force Doctor Roger Tippetts; and the coordinator of Mamalluca, Luís Hernán Vigorena.

Dr. Amelia Ramírez explained that this project ''extends the horizon of this Observatory towards scientific observation. Not only supporting this network of USAFA Falcon robotic telescopes, which will soon cover from Hawaii to Australia, but it will also allow us to access our own scientific observation projects, which will be part of those services that this Observatory can offer. to the community of amateurs and students of astronomy academies or clubs. Not only for simple tourist observation, but for true technological transfer and an approach to science and its research methods."

The astronomer added that the inauguration of this telescope ''corresponds to one more stage of this beautiful process of growth of the observatory, and is not the beginning or end of an event. It is a change of attitude that can define the difference between those who look at the sky with curious eyes and those who make the sky their life inspiration.

Scientist Frances Chun, meanwhile, highlighted the work carried out to achieve this project, emphasizing that it is the first to be built in this part of the world, which joins Australia, South Africa and Hawaii. ''The Mamalluca-Falcón Observatory will provide never-before-seen research opportunities in satellite characteristics research, astronomy research, science, technology, engineering and mathematics studies. The Falcon Telescope Network, in its entirety of telescopes worldwide, will be available at the Mamalluca Observatory and at the University of La Serena for astronomy research. We hope that The Network will be of great added value for the local community and for the schools in both Vicuña and La Serena. For example, students in Vicuña, La Serena and throughout Chile will be able to take astronomical photographs using a telescope in Australia or South Africa during their school hours,' she said.

For the mayor of Vicuña, Rafael Vera, it is a sustained work that was done with various groups, which resulted in this million-dollar project that will result in Mamalluca's contribution to the study of space. ''The dream that was born in the early nineties has now come a long way, from becoming the pioneer observatory in astronomical tourism, to now being part of a global network for research is a great development,'' he said.

It is important to highlight that the Falcon Network supports undergraduate or graduate students in their research in astronomy. The initiative allows students to carry out research related to astronomical observation around variable stars, exoplanet transits, asteroid detection and monitoring, and for collaborators to carry out astronomy activities with basic and secondary school students to motivate them in the study of this discipline.