Planned industrial plant threatens large observatory in Chile

Nobel Prize winner Genzel and nearly 30 leading researchers call for the relocation of an industrial plant

December 04, 2025

Four observatories atop a hill project multiple laser beams into a deep blue, star-filled night sky, suggesting astronomical observation. — Telescope technology at its limit: The four telescopes of the Very Large Telescope Interferometer at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) project an artificial star onto the sky, which is illuminated by lasers in the atmosphere. This serves to measure atmospheric turbulence and correct it using deformable telescope mirrors.

© A. Berdeu/ESO

Telescope technology at its limit: The four telescopes of the Very Large Telescope Interferometer at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) project an artificial star onto the sky, which is illuminated by lasers in the atmosphere. This serves to measure atmospheric turbulence and correct it using deformable telescope mirrors.

© A. Berdeu/ESO

Protection Call: Nobel Laureate Reinhard Genzel and nearly 30 international astronomers urge Chile to protect the night sky over the Paranal Observatory.
Threat of INNA: The planned industrial project includes a port, various production facilities for green ammonia and hydrogen, and thousands of power generators covering more than 3,000 hectares. The industrial complex could increase light pollution by up to 35 percent and cause disruptive microvibrations affecting telescope operations.
Research Impact: Key research, including the GRAVITY+ project, which operates at the limit, may suffer serious setbacks due to the potential negative effects of the INNA complex.

MPE Director and Nobel Laureate Reinhard Genzel is spearheading an open letter signed by nearly 30 eminent international astronomers urging the Chilean government to relocate the proposed INNA industrial complex. The project threatens the world-renowned dark skies over ESO’s Paranal Observatory, the premier site for cutting-edge astronomical research.

35 percent more light pollution and microvibrations

Overview of Chile with telescope locations and INNA megaproject facilities. — This map shows the location of facilities at ESO's Paranal Observatory and the planned location of the INNA project. It details the extension of the industrial complex across the Pacific coast and the Atacama Desert, and its proximity to some of the world's most advanced astronomical facilities: the Very Large Telescope (VLT), the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), and the southern array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO South).

© ESO

This map shows the location of facilities at ESO's Paranal Observatory and the planned location of the INNA project. It details the extension of the industrial complex across the Pacific coast and the Atacama Desert, and its proximity to some of the world's most advanced astronomical facilities: the Very Large Telescope (VLT), the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), and the southern array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO South).

© ESO

The letter warns that the INNA complex could increase light pollution at Paranal by up to 35 percent and cause disruptive micro-vibrations that impair highly sensitive telescope operations. Such interference risks decades of vital research, including projects like GRAVITY+, led by MPE, which recently demonstrated the use of four laser guide stars to observe faint cosmic objects. On a neighboring mountain, construction work is already well underway on the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), a research infrastructure of the future with the largest mirror diameter in the world. This telescope will perform highly sensitive measurements and, among other things, study the atmospheres of Earth-like planets.

“Darkness is what makes me see clearer. It is the medium through which I can observe the universe’s most delicate details,” says Chilean astronomer Eduardo Unda-Sanzana, emphasizing the global importance of preserving these pristine skies.

Compromise between green transformation and fundamental astronomical research

The scientists welcome the expansion of green energy sources with the industrial plant, but warn that the size and proximity of the INNA project poses an unacceptable threat to the internationally significant research infrastructure of astronomy. They respectfully call on President Gabriel Boric and key ministers to relocate the project and strengthen the protection of this unique scientific and natural heritage.

MPE, MPG/BEU

Planned industrial plant threatens large observatory in Chile

35 percent more light pollution and microvibrations

Compromise between green transformation and fundamental astronomical research

MPE Director Reinhard Genzel and German Federal President Steinmeier visit threatened telescope site in Chile

Dawn of a new era of interferometry with GRAVITY+

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