Astronomers Triumph as $10bn Chile Project Threatening World’s Clearest Skies Canceled
The scientific community is celebrating the cancellation of the proposed $10bn INNA green hydrogen and ammonia facility, which had threatened the exceptionally clear skies of Chile’s Atacama Desert, a prime location for ground-based astronomy. Astronomers had warned the project’s proximity to major observatories like Paranal would cause irreparable damage to observations through light pollution, vibrations, dust, and atmospheric turbulence. While this cancellation averts a direct threat, it underscores the urgent need for enhanced protection measures for professional astronomical sites in Chile, as the work to safeguard these skies is far from over.
John Q. Hosedrinker