Free Astronomy Magazine May-June 2026

43 MAY-JUNE 2026 ASTRO PUBLISHING observatories. Such measures are es- sential to allow astronomical obser- vatories to continue operating, particularly in a region widely re- garded as the best in the world for optical astronomy facilities, owing to the exceptional darkness of the skies over northern Chile. “We will continue to work in close collaboration with local, regional, and national authorities to protect the dark skies of northern Chile, an irreplaceable natural heritage that is essential for advancing our under- standing of the Universe and to en- able world-class astronomy for the benefit of Chile and the global sci- entific community ,” says Itziar de Gregorio-Monsalvo, ESO’s Represen- tative in Chile. “It has been incredi- bly reassuring to see so many people in Chile and around the world care deeply about, and actively speak up for, the protection of dark and quiet skies in the context of the INNA proj- ect,” says Barcons. “We are sincerely grateful for this engagement and solidarity. It gives us confidence that, by working together, we can con- tinue to protect dark and quiet skies in Chile and elsewhere — for astron- omy research and for humankind.” Since the project was submitted to SEA in December 2024, members of the astronomy community in Chile, in ESO’s Member States and beyond, political leaders and authorities at international, national, regional and local level, as well as countless mem- bers of the public, have made their voices heard in support of this shared goal. ESO will continue to intensify its efforts to ensure that the pristine skies of Paranal remain the world’s best window to observe the Uni- verse, and is also committed to the broader fight against light pollution and satellite interference, helping secure the natural heritage of dark and quiet skies around the world for future generations. ! T he 2600-metre high mountain Cerro Paranal is framed against a dark sky with the majestic arc of our Galaxy the Milky Way overhead, ex- hibiting the excellent viewing condi- tions at Paranal, which enjoys about 300 clear nights per year. These view- ing conditions were a major factor in the decision to build ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) here, which can be discerned sitting on top of the mountain in this image. The VLT is the world's most advanced optical instrument, and is an invaluable tool helping astronomers to study the Universe and progress our under- standing of it. In this respect, it is the most productive individual ground- based facility, leading to the publica- tion of an average of more than one peer-reviewed scientific paper per day. [A. Ghizzi Panizza/ESO]