The Chilean Observatory is an international astronomical facility The general name, ALMA (The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array), is a collaborative project between the European Astronomical Research Organization (ESO), the National Science and Technology Foundation (NSF), Nature Science, and Chile.

Following a decision in 1963, ESO In 1963, ESO approved the construction of an observatory in Chile, and the detection team traveled to many sites to assess their suitability. The site decided on was La Silla, 600 kilometers from Santiago and 2,400 meters above sea level, in the southern part of the Athagama Desert. In addition to being a government asset, it has the additional advantages of being dry, flat and easily accessible, and isolated and away from any artificial sources of light and dust.