Cosmotourism

I was born in La Serena, in the north of Chile, not far from some of the world's most powerful telescopes, making it a well-known spot for astronomers like me. My mother, however, is from the south of Chile. Our country stretches through various latitudes, leading me to jokingly call it the "one-dimensional country." The north is dry, vast, and bare, while the south is alive with forests and green mountains—a stark contrast to my desert upbringing. My favorite southern spot is Chiloe Island, rich in myths and traditions from both the Mapuche people and Spanish immigrants. A few weeks ago, I revisited Chiloe with my mother, echoing a journey we first made a decade ago. As a scientist trained to think critically, some might expect me to view the "magic" of the South's myths as obsolete. Yet, I find great joy and respect in these traditions, which ignite a sense of curiosity akin to that of our ancestors—a trait shared with astronomers. Among these tales, the s...