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LiveScience
LiveScience
Harry Baker

Rare dusting of snow covers one of the driest places on Earth and shuts down massive radio telescope — Earth from space

A satellite photo of a desert covered in streaks of white snow.
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Where is it? Atacama Desert, Chile

What's in the photo? A rare dusting of snow covers parts of one of the driest places on Earth

Which satellite took the photo? Landsat 9

When was it taken? July 10, 2025

This striking satellite photo captured a rare spectacle earlier this year, when "one of the driest places on Earth" experienced a rare snowstorm. This freak event temporarily turned the barren, rocky landscape white — and briefly shut down one of the world's most powerful radio telescopes.

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