The observatory’s research covers almost all celestial phenomena, from planets and exo-planets to black holes and near-Earth comets, Steffen Mieske, the head of the site’s scientific operations, said.
That work could be jeopardized if the night sky brightens, even a fraction.
“Light pollution is the main threat to astronomy because it affects the quality of the observable sky,” the Skies of Chile Foundation, which works to preserve the quality of the country’s night skies, argues.
“When you see a tap running, you realize you’re wasting water. But if you see a place lit up brightly at night, you don’t think of it as pollution,” the foundation’s director Daniela Gonzalez said.
AES Andes, in a statement, assured that its hydrogen and ammonia project, codenamed Inna, conformed to the “highest norms in terms of lighting,” including a new Chilean rule aimed at protecting astronomy sites from skyglow.
It has rejected Paranal’s claim that it would be within 11 kilometers of the observatory, saying the distance would be around twice that.
A group of 40 astronomers, scientists and poets have called for the establishment of a “light exclusion zone” around Paranal, to keep it pitch-black at night.
The Inna project, which is currently awaiting an environmental permit, is not expected to be licensed for another two or three years.
© 2025 AFP
