The first Slovenian telescope in Chile

Why do you see fewer stars in the city at night than in the countryside? Due to ever more light pollution.

This is becoming a serious problem also for astronomers.

They therefore prefer to monitor the night sky in the countryside or mountains, where it is less bright and celestial bodies are easier to see.

The University of Nova Gorica and the astronomy magazine Spika will set up a telescope in the mountains of Chile under the auspices of the GoChile educational project, in order for astronomers to explore in the best possible conditions.

The telescope will be located at the El Sauce Observatory in the south of the Atacama Desert at an altitude of 1560 meters, where we also find telescopes from other world astronomical organizations.

At this location the atmosphere is extremely stable and clean, in addition, the nights are dark and clear almost every day of the year. That is why the observation conditions there are top-notch, perhaps even the best in the world.

The Slovenian telescope will thus be prepared for exceptional astronomical research and photographs of space.

Researchers will be able to observe the sky from Slovenia, as the telescope and all accessories are automated. They can also be easily operated remotely.

»The telescope will primarily be intended for students of physics and astrophysics at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Nova Gorica and amateur astronomers under the auspices of the magazine Spika,« says the professional project manager Prof. Dr. Andreja Gomboc.

»It will also be available to curious students, who will be able to gain practical experience with astronomical observations in the project.«

Although we cannot touch the stars, we can at least approach them with astronomical research. That’s why the main guideline of the GoChile project is: »More astronomy!«

Glossary

Light pollution occurs because artificial lighting increases the brightness of the environment, resulting in poorer visibility of stars.

Points to Consider

1. Why does the sky have to be clear for astronomical observation?
2. Why is visibility in the mountains better?
3. Which constellations do you know?

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The original version of this article was published on April 28th.

English translation courtesy of JL Flanner, Total Slovenia News, an English language website with news from and about Slovenia.