- Faced with the growing risk that light pollution represents for the development of astronomy in Chile, the main international observatories with a presence in the country have formed a joint organization dedicated to protecting the dark skies of northern Chile.
- The council will act through the Chilean Skies Foundation and the Office for the Protection of the Quality of the Northern Chilean Sky (OPCC), with the objective of coordinating strategies and articulating actions in the face of the advance of light pollution.
Light pollution is growing by 9.6% each year, according to a study published in Science magazine. Chile's skies are also being affected by this phenomenon and it is estimated that a 10% increase in sky brightness would mean a loss of 12.07% of the original capacity of the optical telescopes located in the country.
Faced with this problem, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the Las Campanas Observatory -of the Carnegie Institution for Science-, signed an agreement to create the Dark Skies Council. Through this alliance, the institutions will work in a coordinated manner to protect Chile's privileged skies.
The signatory institutions manage some of the largest and most advanced optical observatories in the world, all of them located in Chile: AURA is in charge of the Cerro Tololo Observatory, Gemini South and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory; the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), under construction, will be installed at Las Campanas, where the Carnegie Science Institution currently operates its observatory; while ESO operates observatories at Paranal and La Silla, and will soon operate the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), under construction at Cerro Armazones.
The importance of taking care of dark skies
Thanks to the exceptional quality of its skies, Chile today concentrates nearly 40% of the world's astronomical observation capacity. In the last two decades, the number of astronomical institutions has doubled in the country, and the number of people dedicated to this science has tripled. In addition, three mega-telescopes will be installed in the coming years, which will be among the largest in the world, with a total investment of more than 5 billion dollars. Their operation will allow Chile to exceed 60% of the global astronomical observation capacity by 2030.
However, this leadership is at risk. The sustained increase in light pollution sources from urban centers, industrial and mining operations, ports and highways threatens the natural darkness of the night sky in the regions of Antofagasta, Atacama and Coquimbo, key areas for astronomy. "The quality and darkness of the night sky are fundamental to the scientific operations of our observatories. The preservation of the dark skies of northern Chile is a priority for the signatory institutions, since the continuity of their present and future activities depends on it," states the signed agreement.
What is the Dark Skies Council and who are its members?
The Dark Skies Council is composed of six observatory representatives and its main mission is to define and monitor the implementation of a common strategy to protect dark skies. Its functions include coordinating activities with the Office for the Protection of Sky Quality in Northern Chile (OPCC) and the Chilean Skies Foundation, as well as the management and allocation of resources to implement concrete initiatives in the territory.
The OPCC works for the protection of dark skies, essential for astronomy, and provides technical support to facilitate the implementation of light pollution regulations in the regions of Antofagasta, Atacama and Coquimbo. For 25 years it has collaborated with municipalities, local communities and regional actors to promote actions for the prevention and reduction of this type of pollution.
The work of the Fundación Cielos de Chile has focused on the conservation of night skies as the country's natural, scientific and cultural heritage, and promotes the responsible use of artificial light for the benefit of science, biodiversity, human health and sustainable tourism.
The Council appointed Oscar Contreras, who is GMT's Vice President and Representative in Chile, as its first Director. Contreras has extensive experience at the intersection of science, public policy and conservation.
Thus, as Chile strengthens its leadership in dark skies protection, the launch of the Dark Skies Council marks a new era characterized by proactive stewardship to preserve one of Earth's most important windows to the cosmos.