Latest news with #ItziardeGregorio-Monsalvo
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Dark skies above world's best astronomy sites could be ruined by new energy project
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A green energy plant expected to be built in Chile's Atacama Desert could increase night-time sky brightness at one of the world's most valuable astronomical locations by up to 35%, a new study has revealed. Such an increase would seriously affect the scientific observations conducted by some of the world's largest and most expensive telescopes, hampering scientific progress in our understanding of the most intriguing phenomena in the universe. The astronomical site in peril is Mount Paranal, where the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) is located. A 7,400-acre (3,000-hectare) green hydrogen production facility, dubbed INNA, has been proposed by U.S. company AES Energy, which submitted an environmental impact assessment to the Chilean Environmental Impact Agency in late December. While an AES Energy spokesperson previously told earlier that the project will cause a "maximum increase over the natural sky brightness" over Paranal by a negligible 0.27%, ESO's experts foresee a much more significant impact. A new study released by ESO on Monday (March 17) calculates that the night sky above VLT could brighten up by up to 35%, as the telescope is located less than 7 miles (11 kilometers) from the prospective INNA site. That's a staggering increase that would seriously hamper the telescope's ability to view exoplanets, study the most distant galaxies and detect approaching asteroids. "The light-pollution figures we are reporting assume that the project will install the most modern available luminaries in a way that minimizes light pollution," Andreas Kaufer, ESO's Director of Operations and the lead author of the study, said in a statement accompanying ESO's new study. "However, we are concerned that the inventory of light sources planned by AES is not complete and fit for purpose. In that case, our already alarming results would underestimate the potential impact of the INNA project on the Paranal sky brightness." VLT, an interferometer consisting of four 28-foot-wide (8.5 m) telescopes that work together as one, is one of the world's most powerful astronomical instruments. It captured the first ever image of an exoplanet and tracked stars near the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, among other accomplishments. The telescope, apart from its size, benefits from the exceptionally dark sky above Mount Paranal, which is the least light-polluted among all major astronomical locations in the western world. The construction of INNA would seriously reduce VLT's scientific reach. "We build the largest and most powerful telescopes, in the best place on Earth for astronomy, to enable astronomers worldwide to see what no one has ever seen before," Itziar de Gregorio-Monsalvo, ESO's Representative in Chile, said in the statement. "Light pollution from projects like INNA doesn't just hinder research, it steals our shared view of the universe." It's not just the VLT that will suffer. The Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory, currently being built at Paranal, will suffer a 50% light pollution increase due to INNA, as it is located barely 3 miles (5 km) from the planned hydrogen plant. The project will also affect the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), a visible light mega-telescope with a nearly 125-foot-wide (38 m) mirror, which will be the largest in the world once completed toward the end of this decade. The ESO study estimates that the sky above the ELT could brighten up by 5%, which is enough to affect the demanding observations it is being built to perform. ESO conducted the study in cooperation with Canadian light pollution expert Martin Aubé using cutting-edge light pollution models. The team used publicly available data from the INNA environmental impact assessment submitted by AES. The company estimates that the complex will require over 1,000 artificial lights. AES spokesperson told earlier that the project will comply with "the highest standards in lighting in its design" as required by regulations laid down by Chile's Ministry of the Environment to prevent light pollution, and protect the astronomical quality of the night skies, the health of people, and biodiversity. Aside from light pollution, there are other impacts the observatories can expect to experience. The ESO study also found that wind turbines at INNA will stir the thin and quiet atmosphere above the Atacama Desert. The resulting turbulence in the air will further affect astronomical observations, causing a twinkling effect in distant deep space objects as seen from Earth. ESO estimates that observing conditions might worsen by up to 40% because of the turbines. RELATED STORIES: — World's largest telescope threatened by light pollution from renewable energy project — The Milky Way's heart shines over construction site of world's largest telescope — The loss of dark skies is so painful, astronomers coined a new term for it "Taken together, these disturbances seriously threaten the current and long-term viability of Paranal as a world-leader in astronomy, causing the loss of key discoveries about the universe and compromising Chile's strategic advantage in this area," says de Gregorio-Monsalvo, ESO's representative in Chile. "The only way to save Paranal's pristine skies and protect astronomy for future generations is to relocate the INNA complex." ESO will submit the report to the Chilean authorities as part of the Citizen Participation Process in response to the INNNA environmental assessment. Light pollution is a major problem affecting astronomical observatories all over the world. The Paranal site is one of the few remaining in the world where light pollution so far remains negligible. The pristine night sky combined with the dryness of the Atacama air provide the best conditions for astronomical study in the whole world.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
European star-gazing agency says Chile green power plant will ruin its view
Europe's ESO astrophysics agency said Monday that a giant green energy project billed for Chile's Atacama desert -- home to the world's darkest skies -- will spoil its view of the stars and threaten its science mission. AES Andes, a subsidiary of US energy company AES Corporation, has submitted proposals for the construction of a 3,000-hectare (7,400-acre) project in the desert to generate solar and wind energy and green hydrogen. The $10 billion Inna project, part of Chile's plans to become carbon neutral, is still subject to an environmental impact assessment. On Monday, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) said its own technical analysis has revealed "alarming" consequences for the telescopes that form part of its Paranal Observatory. "The impact is going to be devastating, irreversible, and cannot be mitigated if the project remains where they intend" to build it, ESO Chile representative Itziar de Gregorio-Monsalvo told reporters in Santiago. The telescopes examine faraway Earth-like planets and galaxies to create a better understanding of our universe, "and even monitor asteroids that could cause damage to our planet," according to the ESO. The analysis found Inna would increase light pollution above the Very Large Telescope (VLT) "by at least 35 percent." The VLT started operating in 1999 with an ESO investment of 330 million euros (about $360 million), according to the agency. At its stadium-sized Extremely Large Telescope -- due to start scientific observations in 2029 with a budget of 1.45 billion euros -- light pollution would increase by five percent -- "a level of interference incompatible with the conditions required for world-class astronomical observations," said the ESO. There will also be harms from atmospheric turbulence, ground vibrations and dust contamination, an ESO statement said. AES Andes has said the Inna project would conform to the "highest norms in terms of lighting," including a Chilean rule to protect astronomy sites from skyglow. It has also said the project would be further away from the telescopes than stated by the ESO. The agency said it would submit a full technical report to Chilean authorities this month to be considered in the environmental impact assessment. ps/pa/mlr/des
