“Chile has the potential to become an example in the conservation of dark skies”

In conversation with Skies of Chile, Ruskin Hartley, CEO of DarkSky, explores Chile’s fundamental role in preserving the world’s clearest skies.

Ruskin Hartley, CEO and executive director of DarkSky International (DarkSky), has dedicated his career to protecting the natural resources of our planet. Recently, Ruskin visited Chile to meet with local authorities, representatives of non-governmental organizations, professional associations, and organizations dedicated to lighting and light pollution.

As part of a visit coordinated by the Skies of Chile Foundation, he toured observatories such as La Silla, the Las Campanas Observatory, and the site that will host the Giant Magellan Telescope. Hartley explains that his visit began at the observatories because it is where the light pollution regulations in Chile started. “The astronomical community is very dedicated to protecting dark skies as a vital resource that allows their scientific research. They also recognize that the region’s population is growing and that the economy is diversifying with tourism and an expanding mining sector. The question is how we can drive economic development in a way that protects the region’s valuable dark skies,” says the DarkSky representative.

Chile’s leadership in dark sky protection

Chile is home to the Gabriela Mistral Dark Sky Sanctuary, one of the most important places in the world for star observation and astronomical research. Named a sanctuary in 2015, it was the first place in the world to receive this distinction from DarkSky. Astrotourism has been embraced by neighboring communities, and Vicuña prides itself on being a world-class destination for star observation. However, Hartley highlights new challenges: “The sanctuary is now threatened by the growth of nearby cities like La Serena and Vicuña. This prompted us to come to Chile to talk with the community about how we are going to ensure these places are protected.”

During his visit, Hartley also met with local authorities, professionals, and lighting suppliers, as well as the academic world, to discuss the importance of implementing the new Chilean national light pollution regulations. Hartley positively highlighted the New Chilean Lighting Standard: “I believe Chile has the potential to become a role model. It has gone further than other countries by recognizing artificial night light as an environmental pollutant, in the same way, it recognizes common pollutants in water or air. This is an important step forward and a reason why we can look to Chile for leadership.”

However, Hartley also acknowledged the challenges that come with such innovative legislation. “It is clear that there are some conflicts, as the issue is spread across five or six agencies, each with its responsibility. The challenge is to find a way to combine and harmonize these efforts over time, without losing sight of the overall goal: protecting the environment. The goal is to create a better place for everyone, whether penguins or people.”

Daniela González, executive director of the Skies of Chile Foundation, highlighted the influence DarkSky has had on local organizations advocating for the reduction of light pollution. “The organization is the leading international reference in promoting the care of dark skies. And they have undoubtedly been an inspiration, to understand the problem of light pollution from its multiple dimensions. Our missions unite us, and within the work of civil society organizations—especially concerning environmental care—associativity and collaborative work are key to fulfilling our purpose,” she mentioned.

The global threat of satellites

Although Hartley’s work in Chile focused on solutions at the territorial level, the problem of light pollution has also reached our atmosphere with the proliferation of satellite constellations. Hartley warned of an incipient crisis. “Five years ago, we had a couple of thousand satellites in orbit. Today, we are approaching 10,000, half of which are owned by SpaceX. By the end of the decade, we could have up to one hundred thousand.”

This growing network of satellites threatens radio astronomy by interfering with its signals. Additionally, it has become a headache for optical astronomy due to the lines these bright objects leave in astronomical observations. But there are also environmental impacts, such as carbon emissions into the atmosphere during launches and the proliferation of space debris. “What most people don’t know is that a satellite has a lifespan of about four or five years. This means that every four or five years, each satellite in a constellation needs to be replaced.”

According to Hartley, the environmental effects of obsolete satellites burning up in the atmosphere are not yet fully known; however, he warns about the negative impact of metal release. “Most satellites are made of aluminum. When they burn up in the atmosphere, they deposit in the upper atmosphere. Scientists know that aluminum degrades the ozone layer, which is essential for protecting life on Earth by filtering harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun,” he commented.

Hartley insisted on the urgency of addressing this problem as soon as possible. “We have the opportunity to solve a problem before it becomes too big. We have been using plastic bottles and plastic bags that have ended up in the ocean, and now it is full of microplastics. We have seen this situation before, and now we have the opportunity to stop it.”

A call to action for conservation

Although Chile has made progress in regulating light pollution, Hartley emphasizes the importance of a broad group of actors joining in, including the tourism and conservation sectors. “Where is the conservation community in this conversation? Not just the birds, but the conservation community in general,” he asks. “Unlike the challenges of climate change or deforestation, lighting is relatively easy to solve from a technical perspective. Using lighting more consciously can help solve those problems,” Hartley argues.

In a world where natural darkness is increasingly scarce, Hartley invites Chile to preserve its heritage of dark skies. “It is clear that Chile is proud of its natural heritage, its mountains, its wildlife, and its pristine waters. Protecting its dark skies is supporting something that is part of the identity and what it means to be Chilean.”