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Europe Observatory Hails Plan to Abandon Light-Polluting Chile Project
AES Andes halted the INNA project after studies showed a 35% rise in light pollution at ESO’s Paranal Observatory, following strong opposition from astronomers and political figures.
- AES Andes, a subsidiary of AES Corporation, said on January 23, 2026, it had decided to abandon the INNA project in Chile's Atacama Desert after analysis.
- High-Profile scientists and political figures mounted an opposition including a letter campaign in early 2025 and an open letter in November 2025, supported by astronomers and civic groups.
- An ESO study showed INNA would raise light pollution at Paranal by at least 35 percent and worsen atmospheric turbulence, harming the Very Large Telescope.
- An ESO spokesperson cautioned on Monday that the formal withdrawal from Chile's Environmental Impact Assessment System has not yet occurred, despite the decision to cancel the project.
- Chile's role as host to major observatories means astronomers are pushing for legislation to protect skies from threats like nearly 10,000 active satellites, with professional bodies lobbying policymakers.
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Europe observatory hails plan to abandon light-polluting Chile project
Europe's ESO star-gazing organisation on Monday welcomed plans to call off building a massive green energy project in the Chilean desert which threatened to spoil its telescopes' view of the darkest skies on Earth.
·Missoula, United States
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Atacama desert: Europe observatory hails plan to abandon light-polluting Chile project
·Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
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Total News Sources24
Leaning Left4Leaning Right3Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution37% Left, 36% Center
Bias Distribution
- 37% of the sources lean Left, 36% of the sources are Center
37% Left
L 37%
C 36%
R 27%
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