Astronomy Picture of the Day

Explanation: The road to the high mountaintop La Silla Observatory in the Chilean Atacama Desert also led to totality in the path of July 2nd's total solar eclipse. This regular eclipse sequence is centered near the moment the Moon's dark shadow fell across some of planet Earth's large telescopes. In fact La Silla was a little north of the shadow track's center line. The region's stunning, clear skies are slightly brighter to the north (right) in the scene. The dreamlike view looks west toward the setting Sun and the approaching shadow path.