SANTIAGO, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Chile launched on Monday a mobile laboratory, a vehicle that will travel the country to promote scientific and astronomical education.
The laboratory, equipped with scientific material, includes a state-of-the-art inflatable planetarium and a portable telescope.
Andres Couve, minister of science, technology, knowledge and innovation, said that a "eclipse season" will start on July 2, which will be partially visible throughout the Chilean territory.
"The fact that we are building the largest ground-based astronomical capacity in Chile, puts us in a privileged position," the minister said. "We must use this opportunity to constitute science as a driving force in development of the country."
According to Couve, they hoped that the laboratory will bring astronomy closer to the most remote and vulnerable places in the Chilean territory.
