Light Pollution Threatens Chile's Dark Skies
Rukhshan Mir (@rukhshanmir) Published February 17, 2018 | 08:45 AM
Paranal, Chile, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :It seems nothing can escape the inexorable spread of light pollution -- not even the giant telescopes probing the heavens above northern Chile, a region whose pristine dark skies, long considered a paradise for astronomers, are under increasing threat.
The Atacama desert, 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) north of the capital Santiago, provides ideal conditions where astronomers study the stars in darkness so profound they appear like diamonds on velvet.
Scientists estimate that by 2020, Chile -- a critically important country for optical and radio astronomy -- will host 70 percent of the globe's astronomical infrastructure. But the ever-expanding use of cheap light-emitting diode (LED) lighting in the booming South American country is starting to concern astronomers desperately trying to safeguard some of the world's darkest skies.
"Unfortunately, as we have more and more white lights, the deterioration of the skies has increased by up to 30 percent compared to the end of the last decade," said scientist Pedro Sanhueza.
Chile takes the problem of light pollution so seriously that Sanhueza heads up an organization called the Office for the Protection of Quality of the Sky (OPCC).
Its main task is to make the people of northern Chile aware of the particularly high night-sky quality and the negative impacts of light pollution. Sanhueza says that though the quality is good, the sky over northern Chile is becoming "an area of risk," threatening the profound nocturnal darkness required for the study of phenomena such as solar flares, planetary nebulae, black holes and supernovas.
Fueling the threat, he adds, are communities such as Antofagasta, Coquimbo and La Serena, where LED lights are increasingly used in homes, streetlights, store signs and billboards.
Recent Stories
KP budget announcement: a move to sabotage IMF talks: Minister of State for Fina ..
IHC orders for live broadcasting of missing persons' cases
Event held at Royal Graveyard Cholistan on Nawab Sadiq death anniversary
PIA flight carrying 171 students reached Quetta
1st PNSC Inter-Provincial Women Softball Championship from May 30
'Youth's calligraphy skill must be sharpened'
Vendrame breaks away to win Giro stage 19, as Pogacar cruises
EU told to tackle food cost differences across the bloc
Pakistan, Lithuania agree to enhance high-level cooperation in diverse sectors
LHC CJ urges judges to work without fear
PRA to start WWF collection: Additional Commissioner
Public welfare budget presented in challenging financial situation: KP CM
More Stories From World
-
Barcelona sack 'proud' coach Xavi after trophyless season
4 minutes ago -
EU told to tackle food cost differences across the bloc
39 minutes ago -
Top UN court orders Israel to halt Rafah offensive
1 hour ago -
Armenia returns four border villages to Azerbaijan
3 hours ago -
Ex-regulator confirmed as new chief of Brazil's Petrobras
3 hours ago -
China warns of Taiwan 'war' as military drills encircle island
4 hours ago
-
ICJ orders Israel to immediate stop war in Gaza
5 hours ago -
Top UN court starts ruling on bid to order Israel to halt campaign in Gaza
6 hours ago -
Putin visit to N.Korea 'being prepared': Kremlin
6 hours ago -
Beaten Leverkusen hope to 'find themselves' in German Cup final
6 hours ago -
Passengers had seconds to react as turbulence hit Singapore flight
6 hours ago -
Four dead in restaurant collapse on Spanish holiday island
6 hours ago