Solar Energy News
STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Could a climate megaproject cloud Chile's unparalleled views of universe?
Could a climate megaproject cloud Chile's unparalleled views of universe?
By Paulina ABRAMOVICH
Paranal, Chile (AFP) Feb 12, 2025

As night falls on the Atacama desert in northern Chile, four giant telescopes turn their gaze towards the star-strewn heavens.

The driest place on Earth is the best place to observe the universe, with darkness offering dazzling spectacles of cosmic wonder.

The area is home to the Paranal Observatory, which houses the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, used by astronomers to search the Milky Way with "unparalleled clarity," according to Spanish astrophysicist Itziar de Gregorio.

Perched at 2,635 meters (8,645 feet) above sea level, and located dozens of kilometers (miles) from the nearest town of Antofagasta, Paranal's unique atmospheric conditions make it one of the most productive observatories in the world.

The Very Large Telescope -- made up of four individual telescopes -- produced the first ever image of an exoplanet (a planet outside our solar system) in 2004.

But a huge green energy project, part of Chile's plans to become carbon neutral, risks clouding the view, scientists say.

Latin America's fifth-largest economy aims to phase out fossil fuels by 2050, replacing them with renewable energy sources, which can also be used to produce green hydrogen.

Green hydrogen, a clean method of generating electricity, has been touted as a means to help decarbonize Chile's crucial copper mining sector, among other industries.

AES Andes, the Chilean subsidiary of US energy company AES Corporation, has submitted proposals for a 3,000-hectare (7,400-acre) site in the Atacama desert near Paranal to harness solar and wind energy, which in turn can be used to produce green hydrogen and ammonia, a gas used in making fertilizers.

But scientists say the artificial light from such a facility could obscure some of the celestial phenomena observed at Paranal, such as eclipses and meteorite showers.

They worry it could also endanger the functioning of the ESO's Extremely Large Telescope, billed as the world's "biggest eye on the sky," currently under construction near the Paranal Observatory.

The stadium-sized telescope is slated to be completed by 2028.

De Gregorio, the ESO's representative in Chile, warns that the country's unique "window onto the universe" could close, hampering scientists' quest to answer the great question of our time: are we the only intelligent life form in the universe?

- Like 'a tap running' -

Chile, home to around 70 percent of the world's telescopes, has long been seen as a hub for stargazers.

By day, astronomers at Paranal crunch numbers. By night, they explore the galaxy.

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.

pa/vel/str/sf/cb/bfm/fg

AES CORPORATION

Related Links
Stellar Chemistry, The Universe And All Within It

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Telescoping from the moon
Miami FL (SPX) Feb 04, 2025
Before Neil Armstrong took his "giant leap for mankind," NASA staged a series of missions that paved the way for his team's successful Apollo 11 moon landing-from a flight that tested the lunar module in low Earth orbit to a dress rehearsal voyage that tested all aspects of the mission except for the actual landing. Today, with its ambitious Artemis campaign, the iconic space agency has set its sights on returning humans to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years. And like ... read more

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Why Expanding the Search for Climate-Friendly Microalgae is Essential

Solar-powered reactor extracts CO2 from air to produce sustainable fuel

New Green Phosphonate Chemistry Explored

Turning farm waste into sustainable roads

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
UK engineers warn on AI risks to environment

SNU Engineers Develop Shape-Shifting Soft Robot for Crawling, Climbing, and Adaptive Movement

OpenAI board rejects Elon Musk-led buyout offer

China's Tencent says trialling own AI reasoning model alongside DeepSeek

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Green energy projects adding to Sami people's climate woes: Amnesty

New Study Enhances Trust in Wind Power Forecasting with Explainable AI

Trump casts chill over US wind energy sector

US falling behind on wind power, think tank warns

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Chinese auto giant BYD to integrate DeepSeek, broaden self-driving tech

Toyota announces Lexus EV plant in Shanghai

Norway nears 100% goal of all-electric cars

EU vows 'action plan' for beleaguered auto sector

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
NRL's Mercury Pulsed Power Facility Celebrates 20 Years of Research Excellence

France sets new plasma record in hunt for nuclear fusion

In a first, researchers stabilize a promising new class of high-temperature superconductors at room pressure

Toward sustainable computing: Energy-efficient memory innovation

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
India PM Modi ends foreign tour with nuclear deals in pipeline

GE Vernova advances UK SMR development with new supplier agreements

Error shuts down Swiss nuclear power reactor: operator

Kazakhstan inks first deal to supply uranium to Switzerland

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Japan sets new 2035 emissions cut goal

COP30 president urges most 'ambitious' emissions targets possible

Climate activists defend 'future generations', appeal lawyer says

DeepSeek breakthrough raises AI energy questions

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Trees Struggle to Adapt to Climate Change Without Human Assistance CSU Study Finds

Forest mission showcased ahead of launch

Green light for AI-driven mapping of New Zealand's forests

Launch of the most comprehensive European wetland map

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.