AssetID: 54424953
Headline: RAW VIDEO: 'World's Darkest Skies' Under Threat From New Industrial Plant
Caption: The world’s darkest skies are under threat from an industrial megaproject that could permanently hamper our knowledge of the heavens. The world-renowned Paranal Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert peers through what are known as the clearest and darkest skies on the planet - owing to the lack of light and industrial pollution and the lack of clouds. However, that could change forever due as a proposed industrial complex by AES Andes, a subsidiary of the US-based AES Corporation, is planned just five to 11 kilometres away from the observatory. The massive industrial site, spanning over 3,000 hectares includes plans for a port, ammonia and hydrogen production plants, and thousands of electricity generation units. Scientists warn that light pollution, dust emissions, and atmospheric turbulence from the project would cause irreversible damage to astronomical observations. Since its inauguration in 1999, the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Paranal site has played a vital role in some of astronomy's most significant discoveries. These include capturing the first image of an exoplanet and contributing to Nobel Prize-winning research on the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way. The observatory's telescopes are pivotal for global astronomical research, with the site also hosting the construction of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) — set to become the largest of its kind in the world. These facilities rely on the unparalleled clarity of the Atacama Desert's skies, an environment that could be compromised by the industrial project. ESO Director General Xavier Barcons emphasised the danger posed by the project: "The proximity of the AES Andes industrial megaproject to Paranal poses a critical risk to the most pristine night skies on the planet. Dust emissions, increased atmospheric turbulence, and particularly light pollution will irreparably impact the capabilities for astronomical observation, which have attracted multi-billion-Euro investments by ESO Member States." The Atacama Desert’s atmospheric stability and isolation from light pollution make it a unique natural laboratory for exploring fundamental questions about the Universe, such as the origins of life and the habitability of other planets. “Chile, and in particular Paranal, is a truly special place for astronomy,” said Itziar de Gregorio, ESO’s Representative in Chile. “Its dark skies are a natural heritage that transcends borders and benefits all humanity. It is crucial to consider alternative locations for this megaproject that do not endanger one of the world's most important astronomical treasures.” Astronomers and conservationists are urging the relocation of the industrial site to preserve the pristine skies above Paranal. Without this action, experts warn that the long-term future of one of the most important astronomical facilities on the planet is at risk.
Keywords: astronomy,feature,video,photo,science,chile
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