SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) 鈥� Chile鈥檚 Atacama Desert is one of the darkest spots on Earth, a crown jewel for astronomers who flock to study the origins of the universe in this inhospitable desert along the Pacific coast.
A rare confluence of factors makes the Atacama an ideal home for some of the world鈥檚 biggest ground-based 鈥� , high altitude and, crucially, isolation from the of civilization.
鈥淚t’s a perfect cocktail for astronomy,鈥� said Daniela Gonz谩lez, executive director of the Skies of Chile Foundation, a nonprofit that defends the quality of the country鈥檚 night skies.
But that may not be the case for much longer, to Chile鈥檚 government released Tuesday.
A private company is pressing ahead with plans to construct a giant renewable energy complex in sight of one of Earth鈥檚 most productive astronomical facilities 鈥� , operated by an international consortium known as the European Southern Observatory, or ESO.
In the letter, 30 renowned international astronomers, including Reinhard Genzel, a who conducted much of his prize-winning research on black holes with the ESO-operated telescopes in the Atacama Desert, describe the project as 鈥渁n imminent threat鈥� to humanity’s ability to study the cosmos, and unlock more of its unknowns.
鈥淭he damage would extend beyond Chile鈥檚 borders, affecting a worldwide scientific community that relies on observations made at Paranal to study everything from the formation of planets to the early universe,鈥� the letter reads.
鈥淲e are convinced that economic development and scientific progress can and must coexist to the benefit of all people in Chile, but not at the irreversible expense of one of Earth鈥檚 unique and irreplaceable windows to the universe.鈥�
The scientists join a chorus of voices that have been urging the Chilean government to relocate the hydrogen-based fuel production plant since the plan was unveiled a year ago by AES Chile, an offshoot of the American-based multinational AES Corp.
In response to a request for comment, AES Chile said that its own technical studies showed the project would be fully compatible with astronomical observations and compliant with the Chilean government’s strict regulations on light pollution.
“We encourage trust in the country鈥檚 institutional strength, which for decades has guaranteed certainty and environmental protection for multiple productive sectors,” the company said.
The plan, which is still under environmental review, calls for 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) of wind and solar energy farms, a desalination plant and a new port.
That means not only a major increase in light pollution but also new dust, ground vibrations and heightened atmospheric turbulence that blurs stars and makes them twinkle. All of that 鈥� just 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) from the Paranal Observatory鈥檚 鈥� will mess the view of key astronomical targets and could obstruct scientific advances, experts say.
鈥淎t the best sites in the world for astronomy, stars don’t twinkle. They are very stable, and even the smallest artificial turbulence would destroy these characteristics,鈥� said Andreas Kaufer, the director of operations at ESO, which assesses that the AES project would increase light pollution by 35%.
鈥淚f the sky is becoming brighter from artificial light around us, we cannot do these observations anymore. They’re lost. And, since we have the biggest and most sensitive telescopes at the best spot in the world, if they’re lost for us, they’re lost for everyone.”
Although this controversy might be specific to Chile, home to 40% of the , the project reflects the wider tension between natural darkness and industrialization as light pollution .
鈥淢ajor observatories have been chased out to remote locations, and essentially now they鈥檙e chased out to some of the last remaining dark sky locations on Earth, like the Atacama Desert, the mountain peaks of Hawaii, areas around Tucson, Arizona,鈥� said Ruskin Hartley, the executive director of DarkSky International, a Tuscon-based nonprofit founded by astronomers.
鈥淎ll of them are now at risk from encroaching development and mining. It鈥檚 happening everywhere.鈥�
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DeBre reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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