Trending Now - Atacama Desert's Dark Skies Face Growing Light Pollution Threat

WHO:

ABC News - Chiara Mazzucchelli, president of the Chilean Astronomical Society

ABC News - Daniela González, director of the Cielos de Chile Foundation

ABC News - Itziar de Gregorio-Monsalvo, representative of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile

ABC News - Julia Bodensteiner, assistant professor at the University of Amsterdam

ABC News - Lucas Bordone, ESO astronomer

ABC News - Eduardo Unda-Sanzana, director of the Astronomy Center at the University of Antofagasta

WHAT:

ABC News - The Cielos de Chile Foundation was founded in 2019 to protect the quality of Chile’s night skies.

ABC News - The first international heliophysics observatory in Chile was a major solar station operated by the U.S. Smithsonian Institution in the early 20th century and was forced to shut down operations in 1955 due to environmental pollution caused by mining activity.

ABC News - Several environmental regulations have come under review, including one from Chile's science ministry targeting protected astronomical zones.

ABC News - The first international heliophysics observatory in Chile was a major solar station operated by the U.S. Smithsonian Institution in the early 20th century.

ABC News - The energy project proposed near the Paranal Observatory was slated for construction just 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the observatory.

ABC News - The Atacama Desert spans more than 105,000 square kilometers (40,500 square miles).

ABC News - The first international heliophysics observatory in Chile was forced to shut down operations in 1955 due to environmental pollution caused by mining activity.

ABC News - The Atacama Desert is considered the driest place on Earth and offers some of the clearest views of the universe.

ABC News - The Atacama Desert has more than 300 clear nights per year, meaning no clouds and no rain.

ABC News - A proposed green power complex near the Paranal Observatory was canceled in January following appeals from scientists.

ABC News - The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is a $1.5 billion project by ESO scheduled for completion in 2030.

ABC News - The ELT will have 798 mirrors and a light-gathering area of nearly 1000 square meters (a quarter of an acre).

ABC News - The ELT will be 20 times more powerful than today’s leading telescopes and 15 times sharper than NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.

ABC News - The chances of being selected as a visiting astronomer at Paranal are just 20% to 30%.

WHERE:

ABC News - The Atacama Desert, Chile

ABC News - Paranal Observatory, managed by the European Southern Observatory (ESO)

ABC News - Photon Valley, a high-altitude corridor in northern Chile

WHEN:

ABC News - The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is scheduled for completion in 2030.

ABC News - The energy project was canceled in January.

WHY:

ABC News - The proposed energy project raised alarms due to its potential impacts, including increased light pollution, micro-vibrations, dust, and greater atmospheric turbulence.

ABC News - The proposed energy project raised concerns about increased light pollution, micro-vibrations, dust, and greater atmospheric turbulence affecting astronomical activities.

ABC News - The cancellation of the energy project exposed concerns that existing sky preservation laws are lax, outdated, and unclear.

HOW:

ABC News - Eduardo Unda-Sanzana is part of a ministerial advisory commission that recently delivered recommendations to Chile’s government following the incident regarding the energy project.

ABC News - Astronomers, physicists, and Nobel laureates appealed against the proposed energy project, leading to its cancellation.

(UPDATED April 27, 2026 04:09 UTC)

The Cielos de Chile Foundation, established in 2019, aims to safeguard the quality of Chile’s night skies. This initiative comes in light of the historical challenges faced by the first international heliophysics observatory in Chile, which was forced to close in 1955 due to pollution from mining activities. Eduardo Unda-Sanzana, a member of a ministerial advisory commission, recently presented recommendations to the Chilean government addressing concerns related to a recent energy project.

(UPDATED April 26, 2026 23:11 UTC)

Several environmental regulations are currently under review, including one from Chile's science ministry that focuses on protected astronomical zones. This comes as Eduardo Unda-Sanzana, a member of a ministerial advisory commission, has recently provided recommendations to the Chilean government following an incident related to an energy project. Notably, Chile was home to the first international heliophysics observatory, a significant solar station operated by the U.S. Smithsonian Institution in the early 20th century.

(UPDATED April 26, 2026 17:10 UTC)

An energy project proposed near the Paranal Observatory, just 10 kilometers from the site, has raised significant concerns due to its potential impacts, including increased light pollution and atmospheric turbulence. The Atacama Desert, which spans over 105,000 square kilometers, has a history of environmental challenges, as evidenced by the first international heliophysics observatory in Chile that had to shut down in 1955 due to pollution from mining activities. Eduardo Unda-Sanzana, a member of a ministerial advisory commission, has recently provided recommendations to the Chilean government in response to the situation surrounding the energy project.

(UPDATED April 26, 2026 11:10 UTC)

In a significant development for astronomy, a proposed green power complex near the Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert was canceled following appeals from a coalition of astronomers, physicists, and Nobel laureates who raised concerns about potential light pollution and atmospheric turbulence. The Atacama Desert, known as the driest place on Earth, boasts over 300 clear nights a year, making it an ideal location for the Extremely Large Telescope, a $1.5 billion project by the European Southern Observatory that is set for completion in 2030 and will be 20 times more powerful than current leading telescopes. With the chances of being selected as a visiting astronomer at Paranal ranging from just 20% to 30%, the region continues to attract global attention for its unparalleled astronomical opportunities.