Chinese Academy of Sciences plans development of astronomical observatory and Astroscience Park

On November 22, 2016, director-general of the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the president of the Catholic University of the North (Universidad Católica del Norte, or UCN) jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish an astronomical observation base in Chile.

According to March/April 2019 announcements from InvestChile, the Chilean government agency responsible for promoting Chile in the global market, the Chinese Academy of Sciences South America Center for Astronomy (CASSACA) would oversee the development of two projects: 1) an astronomical observatory (observatorio astronómico) on Cerro Ventarrones in the Antofagasta region, co-developed by UCN, and 2) an Astroscience Park (Parque de Astrociencia) with state-of-the-art technology in Santiago, Chile, with a tentative location at the extreme north of La Dehesa avenue, Lo Barnechea commune, on land over established residential areas.

A second part of the observatory project would potentially involve a 12-meter telescope, the organization's first outside of China, with a construction period of 10-years.

These two projects would involve an investment that could exceed 320 million USD, and this would be China's first investment in Chile in the field of science and astronomical exploration.