US EditionChile's Dark Skies Remain at Risk Despite Energy Project Cancellation, Scientists Warn
Scientists say the withdrawal still leaves Paranal’s dark skies exposed and renews calls for stronger protections around Chile’s observatories.
- In January, an energy firm canceled a project near Paranal Observatory following massive scientific appeals, but experts warn the Atacama Desert remains vulnerable due to lax, outdated sky preservation laws.
- Eduardo Unda-Sanzana, director of the Astronomy Center at the University of Antofagasta, notes that industrial development and mining threaten the "ocean of darkness" that astronomers have relied on for decades.
- The European Southern Observatory is building the $1.5 billion Extremely Large Telescope at Paranal, which will be 20 times more powerful than today's leading telescopes and 15 times sharper than NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.
- Daniela González, director of the Cielos de Chile Foundation, is working to ensure new government criteria strictly protect astronomical areas, following recent ministerial advisory commission recommendations to Chile.
- Without updated regulations, similar projects could be proposed at any moment, and unchecked industrial impacts like light pollution and atmospheric turbulence could render astronomical activities unviable.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Associated Press News
The threat of light pollution puts the world’s darkest skies in the Atacama Desert at risk
The Atacama Desert in Chile offers some of the clearest views of the universe, thanks to its dry climate, high altitude and isolation from light pollution.
The eyes take a few moments to get used to the darkness. Suddenly there appears a faint spark and then another, brighter. Soon stars, planets and constellations emerge and the entire galaxy is plasmaized in the sky.
Atacama’s pristine skies face light pollution risks despite cancellation of nearby energy project
Chile's Atacama Desert, a prime spot for stargazing, faces ongoing threats to its clear night skies. A proposed energy project near a major observatory was cancelled, but weak regulations could allow similar developments. Scientists warn that light pollution and dust can disrupt crucial astronomical research. Efforts are underway to strengthen protections for these vital dark sky zones.
Energy company cancels controversial project near world’s darkest skies
Energy giant AES Andes has announced the cancellation of the INNA project. Astronomers warned that the proposed industrial complex would cause irreversible damage to the world’s most sensitive telescopes and the pristine dark skies of the Atacama Desert.
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