An Italian photographer travelled to Chile where he visited several star-gazing sites, home to some of the world's most advanced telescopes, located in the spectacular setting of the Atacama desert. Surrounded by vast desert and distant snow topped mountains, the enormous satellite dishes, dome-shaped buildings and telescopes are run by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) , an intergovernmental body dedicated to observing space. Photographer Alberto Ghizzi Panizza was granted access to several observatory sites.
STRETCHING his little legs in the air, a smiley leaf-tailed gecko breaks free from his old, scaly skin .
A NINJA red squirrel cuts a dashing figure as the little fella jumps up to ten-feet between treetops in the Yorkshire Dales .
SNEAKING slowly into the water, this Bengal tiger plans a vicious attack on three unsuspecting deer .
These are the faces of orphans suffering from the horrifying effects of chemical warfare .
FISTS fly as two gorillas take each other on in a dramatic battle .
With the full moon looming behind him, this polar bear nestles down for the night .
THIS may look like a dolphin through jumping hoops, but it is in fact nothing more than a clever 3D pencil drawing .
This tranquil setting stretches for miles as the sun sets behind the mountain .
The claws come out at meal time as a group of white tailed eagles brawl over road-kill .
A hungry hippo is seconds away from catching a bird in its gigantic jaws .
LEAPING through the air this determined little mouse is on a mission for food .
Say cheese! This cheeky chappy isn’t in the mood to live up to his scary reputation as he is pictured here cracking a killer smile as he goes about his daily business .