It is an owl as is evidenced by the arrangement of the toes
(zygodactyl). The species depends on where the photo was
taken. If the photo was taken (as the text implies) from
the Cerro Tololo Inter-american Observatory in Chile then
this is (probably) a Magellanic Owl (Bubo magellanicus).

> "Sauter, Katie" wrote:
>
> Hi Tweets,
>
> I don't know if this link will work after today (it's to a daily
> Astronomy photo), but if you get this message today you should check
> out the photo!
>
> Questions:
> What is the bird? They claim it's an owl...
> How did they take (or make) this shot?
>
> Good (virtual) birding,
> Katie
>
> Katie Sauter
> King County DNRP, Water and Land Resources
> 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 600
> Seattle, WA 98104
> (206) 296-0516
> katie.sauter at metrokc.gov
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Abella, Sally
> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 9:26 AM
> To: Sauter, Katie; Li, Kevin
> Subject: what a shot!
>
> Take a look at this....
> <http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html>

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

A child who becomes acquainted with the birds about him
hears every sound and puzzles out its meaning with a cleverness
that amazes those with ears who hear not.

-Neltje Blanchan

http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html