Photo worth seeing: Starry sky over the desert

Photo worth seeing: Starry sky over the desert
Stunning views over ESO’s Paranal Observatory: the dark sky reveals a clear view full of stars. © ESO/P. Horalek/CC by 4.0

Clear and dark nights like these are essential for the work at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. The remote observation station in the Atacama Desert is located 120 kilometers south of the nearest town. With light pollution of less than one percent, Paranal is the darkest place in the world, allowing detailed views of distant stars and planets.

“Chile and Paranal in particular are a very special place for astronomy – the dark sky is a natural heritage that radiates across national borders and benefits all of humanity,” says Itziar de Gregorio, representative of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile. The Paranal Observatory studies important fundamental questions such as the origin and evolution of the universe, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the habitability of other planets. For this purpose, the observatory is equipped with extensive technology. These include the four main telescopes (UTs) with 8.2 meter mirrors visible in the background, which together form the so-called Very Large Telescope (VLT). There are also four smaller telescopes, the Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) with 1.8 meter mirrors.

But the unique observatory is in danger. A 3,000 hectare industrial complex is planned just a few kilometers away. It will house water and ammonia production with its own port and thousands of electricity storage devices. The mega-project, AES Andes, poses a significant risk to ESO’s research. “Dust emissions during construction, increased atmospheric turbulence and especially light pollution will irreparably affect the possibilities for astronomical observations,” says ESO Director General Xavier Barcons. Only a postponement of the industrial project would secure the future of astronomy at Paranal while preserving one of the last truly pristine skies on Earth.

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