The search, which began shortly after Marsh’s disappearance in mid-September, was expanded after Marsh’s clothes and cell phone were found nearby. About 55 days after his disappearance, authorities found Marsh’s body, stripped to the waist “very close” to the observatory.

what is known

The astronomer spent four days in La Silla, which is home to the advanced New Technology Telescope, owned by the European Space Observatory. There are 18 telescopes here. Its location at about 2,400 meters above sea level has made searching for Marsh particularly difficult as it is an inaccessible scree in the southern part of the Atacama Desert, the driest region in the world.

Photo posted on social networks astronomer Tom Marsh and search operations by police on the right / ESO photo / CARABINEROS REGIÓN COQUIMBO

Now cause of death not reported and it is unclear what happened in the final hours of Marsh’s life. One of the main versions of the investigation is that he just went for a walk and soon disappeared. But according to one of his colleagues, Marsh “He knew the area very well”because she has worked and taught there many times before.

A British student traveling to the observatory with Marsh became a key witness to this mystery. According to his statement to the police, The day before his disappearance, Marsh said “something very strange” to the student and scolded him for not taking the initiative..