{"id":1140,"date":"2025-04-27T03:18:08","date_gmt":"2025-04-27T03:18:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phylogal.cl\/?p=1140"},"modified":"2025-05-09T01:06:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T01:06:08","slug":"encuentro-interdisciplinario","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phylogal.cl\/en\/noticias\/encuentro-interdisciplinario\/","title":{"rendered":"Astronomy under threat: the impact of energy projects in northern Chile"},"content":{"rendered":"

Global astronomy faces a critical challenge: the potential installation of the INNA energy project near astronomical observatories in northern Chile. The implications go beyond light pollution; this decision could set a dangerous precedent that threatens decades of international scientific collaboration and the technological advances that have emerged from this field. Astronomers are urging for solutions that balance energy development with the preservation of dark skies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Northern Chile, known as one of the best places in the world for astronomical observation, is at the center of a crucial debate. The potential construction of a green energy plant near world-class observatories, such as the upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), has sparked concern within the international scientific community.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For astronomer and director of the Millennium Nucleus ERIS, Paula Jofr\u00e9, this threat endangers not only Chile\u2019s astronomical heritage, but that of all humanity: <\/span>\u201cWe need those dark skies because we are human beings who will never stop seeking answers. These unique conditions have made it possible to tackle incredibly complex questions that require equally complex technological development.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Jofr\u00e9 emphasizes that the installation of telescopes in northern Chile is no coincidence. <\/span>\u201cThese telescopes are expensive and specialized, designed specifically to be here. It\u2019s not as simple as moving them elsewhere because they won\u2019t work the same. Everything\u2014from how they\u2019re installed to how they respond to the climate\u2014is tailored to these conditions. To come and disrupt those conditions now seems completely senseless.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Evelyn Johnston, lead researcher, agrees that the threat goes beyond Chilean borders: \u201cChilean skies are not just for Chileans\u2014they belong to astronomers, both amateur and professional, from all over the world. If the country allows the construction of projects so close to the observatories, especially something like the ELT, which is still under construction, what will happen in the future? Are we going to lose all the dark skies in Chile?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Light pollution is one of the main points of conflict. Johnston warns that even a small amount of additional light can have catastrophic consequences for certain research. \u201cIf we have significant amounts of light pollution, it increases the sky\u2019s background brightness, which means we can\u2019t observe incredibly faint objects, like dim galaxies. This would wipe out an entire field of astronomy.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite these concerns, Jofr\u00e9 emphasizes that the astronomical community is not opposed to the development of renewable energy. \u201cWe all like having energy, and hopefully as green as possible. But let\u2019s be mindful: the desert is much larger, and these plants can be placed elsewhere. We can do both. It\u2019s not that complicated to develop both areas, which are tremendously important for humanity.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Johnston adds that this project could set a dangerous precedent. \u201cI understand that the plans for this plant fall within current light pollution regulations, but setting a precedent like this opens the door to future projects that could destroy what we have now. This is not just a national issue; it\u2019s an international one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Astronomy not only seeks to answer seemingly abstract questions about the universe, but also drives technological advances with practical applications. Jofr\u00e9 points out that everyday technologies, such as digital cameras, originated from astronomical efforts. <\/span>\u201cThe digital camera was created because we wanted to observe galaxies. Today, no one questions its importance. What we\u2019re doing now with astronomy could have a huge impact in the future, even if we don\u2019t realize it yet.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Both astronomers insist that it's not about choosing between green energy or astronomy, but about finding a path that preserves both.<\/span>\u201cGlobal warming affects us all, and we want renewable energy. But these interests don\u2019t have to clash. Chile can lead the way by showing that it\u2019s possible to harmonize both needs,\u201d<\/em> Jofr\u00e9 concludes.<\/span><\/p>\n

The scientific community calls for deep dialogue and joint action to protect the dark skies of Chile, an invaluable resource for humanity. As Johnston states, \u201cThese skies are for everyone. If we don\u2019t act now, not only Chilean astronomy will be at risk, but global astronomy and everything this science can offer.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
Source: Nucleo Milenio ERIS<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Global astronomy faces a critical challenge: the potential installation of the INNA energy project near the observatories [\u2026]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":1506,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-noticias"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phylogal.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phylogal.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phylogal.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phylogal.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phylogal.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1140"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/phylogal.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1140\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1476,"href":"https:\/\/phylogal.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1140\/revisions\/1476"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phylogal.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phylogal.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phylogal.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phylogal.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}