Renowned astronomers from across the globe have issued a stark warning to the Chilean government, urging immediate action to protect the pristine night skies of the Atacama Desert from a looming industrial project.
A Perfect Cocktail for Astronomy Under Threat
Chile’s Atacama Desert is celebrated as one of the darkest locations on Earth, a crown jewel for international astronomers. Its unique combination of a dry climate, high altitude, and profound isolation from artificial light creates an unrivalled window to the cosmos. This has made it home to some of the planet's most significant astronomical facilities, including the Paranal Observatory, operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO).
However, this invaluable scientific resource faces what experts call an "imminent threat." A private firm, AES Andes, is advancing plans to construct a vast renewable energy complex a mere three kilometres from Paranal's powerful telescopes. The project, which remains under environmental review, would encompass 3,000 hectares of wind and solar farms, a desalination plant, and a new port.
Irreversible Damage to Cosmic Discovery
In an open letter released on Tuesday 02 December 2025, 30 leading scientists, including 2020 Nobel laureate in astrophysics Reinhard Genzel, detailed the profound risks. They argue the development would not only increase light pollution but also generate dust, ground vibrations, and atmospheric turbulence that would blur and distort starlight.
"At the best sites in the world for astronomy, stars don't twinkle. They are very stable, and even the smallest artificial turbulence would destroy these characteristics," explained Andreas Kaufer, ESO's Director of Operations. ESO estimates the AES project would boost light pollution in the area by 35%, potentially rendering unique observations impossible.
"The damage would extend beyond Chile’s borders," the scientists' letter states, emphasising that 40% of the world’s astronomy infrastructure is located in Chile. Critical research into black holes, planet formation, and the early universe conducted at Paranal would be severely compromised.
A Global Conflict Between Progress and Darkness
AES Corp, the parent company of AES Andes, has countered these concerns, stating its technical studies show the project is "fully compatible" with astronomical work and complies with Chilean light pollution rules. The company advocates for "trust in the country’s institutional strength."
Yet, this dispute reflects a wider, global tension. "Major observatories have been chased out to remote locations... essentially now they’re chased out to some of the last remaining dark sky locations on Earth," said Ruskin Hartley of DarkSky International. He notes that light pollution brightens the global night sky by about 10% each year, with pristine sites in Hawaii and Arizona facing similar pressures from encroaching development and mining.
The astronomers' plea is clear: economic development and scientific progress must coexist, but not at the irreversible expense of one of humanity's few remaining portals to the universe.
