Meddelelse

Comisión ministerial para protección de áreas astronómicas visita Paranal

25. juni 2025

El pasado 24 de junio, los integrantes de la comisión experta asesora del Ministerio de Ciencia para fortalecer la protección de áreas de valor científico para la astronomía visitaron el Observatorio Paranal de ESO luego de sesionar en Antofagasta el mismo día. Esta comisión tiene la tarea de entregar información clave para actualizar el Decreto N.º 2/2023, que declara áreas de valor científico para la astronomía en Chile en sitios donde existe actividad astronómica y las condiciones ideales para desarrollarla. 

El grupo está compuesto por profesionales del área técnica y científica [1] y cuenta con un plazo de cuatro meses para desarrollar su misión y evitar el avance de la contaminación lumínica. A la visita se sumó Cristian Cuevas, subsecretario del Ministerio de Ciencia, y Romina Figueroa, secretaria regional ministerial de Ciencia para las regiones de Antofagasta y Atacama. El objetivo de esta visita fue apreciar a simple vista el estado actual de los cielos en esta zona de investigación astronómica Para ello, la delegación fue recibida por Itziar de Gregorio-Monsalvo, representante de ESO en Chile, quien pudo mostrar el sitio de construcción del ELT, en la cumbre del Cerro Armazones, y los cielos oscuros vistos desde la plataforma del VLT en el Cerro Paranal. 

El Decreto Nº2/2023 creó zonas especiales de protección para resguardar los cielos de estas áreas, considerados un patrimonio único para la investigación astronómica. En estas zonas se encuentran algunos de los observatorios internacionales más avanzados del mundo como los Observatorios Paranal y La Silla de ESO. Sin embargo, el crecimiento de áreas urbanas y proyectos industriales ha puesto en riesgo esta protección. Por ello, la comisión busca revisar y actualizar la normativa ante recomendaciones más recientes de la Unión Astronómica Internacional (IAU) para asegurar que los cielos chilenos sigan siendo un lugar privilegiado para observar el cosmos, y hogar de futuros telescopios y desarrollo de actividades económicas como el astroturismo. 

Pudimos ver en terreno las fuentes de emisión lumínica y cómo afectan notablemente el paisaje. Chile cuenta con condiciones únicas para la observación astronómica, una singularidad que nuestro país ha logrado aprovechar y defender durante décadas. Ese es el espíritu de la comisión, asegurar que en la actualización de esta norma podamos proteger esta actividad tan relevante para nuestro país.” afirmó el subsecretario Cuevas desde la sala de control del VLT, en el cerro Paranal.  

"La visita de esta comisión al Observatorio Paranal es fundamental, pues sus integrantes han podido experimentar en terreno la calidad y oscuridad excepcional estos cielos, pero también los avances de la contaminación lumínica en el área. Nos enorgullece contribuir a su labor para proteger este patrimonio natural y seguir haciendo la mejor ciencia desde Chile.” concluyó Itziar de Gregorio-Monsalvo. 

Notes 

[1] Los integrantes de la comisión asesora ministerial son Elise Servajean, gerenta del Centro de Astrofísica y Tecnologías Afines; Manuela Zoccali, investigadora del Instituto Milenio de Astrofísica; Marcos Díaz, académico de la Universidad de Chile; Rodrigo Reeves, director del Centro para la Instrumentación Astronómica de la Universidad de Concepción; Omar Cuevas, especialista en el estudio de la turbulencia alrededor de los observatorios astronómicos; Pedro Sanhueza, co-responsable de OCEANITES; y el Dr. Eduardo Unda-Sanzana, director del Centro de Astronomía de la Universidad de Antofagasta

Kontakter

Laura Ventura
Head of Communication ESO Chile
Alonso de Córdova 3107, Vitacura, Santiago, Chile
Email: contacto@eso.org  

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Comisión ministerial para protección de áreas astronómicas
Comisión ministerial para protección de áreas astronómicas
Representantes de la comisión asesora ministerial
Representantes de la comisión asesora ministerial

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