Dark Embrace: Light Pollution that Affects Chilean Astronomy by Cristóbal Olivares

The Atacama desert has been luring astronomers for decades. Its exceptionally clear skies have revealed profound discoveries, including potentially hazardous asteroids drifting close to Earth and evidence that the Universe’s expansion is accelerating. However, light pollution is now affecting the work of astronomers who need to see the stars. As the night brightens, and light pollution from cities rises closer to the celestial zenith, the weakening contrast is making it harder for astronomers to spot distant objects. Cities aren’t the only source of light pollution in Atacama, though. The mining industry has also become a visible contributor, with some of the larger mines generating as much light pollution as a small city. As the extraction of copper and lithium ramps up to meet soaring global demand, astronomers working in the area worry that the Chilean desert’s status as the ‘eyes of the world’ could be in jeopardy.