[kortilla]

Headline is dramatic but misleading. Essentially the entire 7/10 of the planet in the ocean has skies as dark as this. Clarity significantly reduces the footprint, but there are massive chunks of mountain ranges untouched by human development in both hemispheres that would be just as clear as here.

If clear skies are important enough to block a new development, they should just unlock some land in the Himalayas or Rockies to replace this observatory.

[gmueckl]

This spot in the Atacama desert isn't special for it's lack of light pollution alone. The sky is rarely, if ever covered in clouds or haze. And the temperature gradient in the air has a shape that prevents random atmospheric distortions that would make long term exposures blurry. This combination of properties is exceedingly rare on Earth.

[seattle_spring]

I recommend reading up on why these observatories and telescopes are where they are in the Atacama. It’s not just about the lack of light pollution, it’s a specific geography that “smoooths out” the air. Something about the high elevation prominence coming up directly from the coast creates a unique situation that allows for longer exposures, something that is less possible out in the open ocean. The only other comparable place are the high peaks of Hawaii, but these are mostly off limits due to native protections.

Destroying an aspect of the dark skies in Chile will absolutely hurt astronomy. No, they would not just be able to move their operations out onto a different mountain range or into the open ocean.

[adriand]

> they should just unlock some land in the Himalayas or Rockies to replace this observatory

That "just" is sure doing a lot of work in this suggestion.

[Tepix]

This place has an elevation of 5000m and the air is super dry.

[tw04]

Who is paying for this move and all the requisite supporting infrastructure? You aren’t just dropping it from a helicopter and calling it a day.

[Oarch]

Sure. But building a stable platform out there?

[niccl]

who pays for moving the observatory?

[exe34]

could you move the industry there?

[rad_gruchalski]

Who’s “they”.