If you’re into astrophotography, you’ll know that clarity is everything. High-altitude regions with limited rainfall and minimal light pollution are perfect for stargazing because of the clear skies they provide, and Chile’s Atacama desert — famed for being the world’s driest (and highest) non-polar desert — is among the best places on Earth to set up your telescope.
Alas, I didn’t have room for a telescope in my backpack during a recent visit to South America, but I did have my trusty iPhone 16 Pro Max. And so when I arrived at the small town of San Pedro de Atacama for a spot of stargazing in January, I thought I’d put the astrophotography capabilities of Apple’s 2025 flagship to the test.
