An autumnal ALMA scene

Autumnal colours appear to sweep across the dramatic landscape of the Chilean Atacama Desert in this spectacular shot from the Chajnantor Plateau. These different colours, however, actually represent a selection of the varied terrains present in the driest non-polar desert in the world, which is comprised of stony terrain, salt lakes, sand and felsic lava that flows towards the Andes.

Three bright-white Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array radio telescopes stand tall in the foreground, contrasting with the almost Martian-looking environment that surrounds them.