Chile's Cerro Paranal Observatory Faces Threat from Industrial Mega-Project

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The Cerro Paranal Observatory in Chile, renowned for its dark skies ideal for astronomical research, is under threat from a proposed industrial complex covering over 3,000 hectares. The project, planned by AES Andes, a subsidiary of the American firm AES Corporation, seeks to develop a power generation plant powered by wind and solar energy, generating ammonia and green hydrogen just seven miles from the observatory.

According to astronomer María Teresa Ruiz, who highlighted the issue in a letter to El Mercurio, the project could significantly disrupt the area's minimal light pollution, which has attracted multinational investments in astronomy. ESO Director General Xavier Barcons warned that dust and light pollution from the construction would degrade the observatory's ability to conduct high-quality astronomical observations.

The project, estimated to cost around $10 billion, raises concerns about increasing sky brightness and its impact on what is described as some of the world’s most pristine night skies, a sentiment echoed by multiple experts in the field. Discussions are ongoing among Chilean government officials and the scientific community regarding potential measures to address the situation.

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