In October of this year, the New Lighting Regulation will begin to apply across the entire national territory. Concretely, this means that all new luminaire projects for exterior public lighting anywhere in Chile will need to meet technical requirements such as limits on blue light emission, directionality of luminous flux, and prior luminaire certification.

Is this feasible? Vitacura already proved it is. In January of this year, the municipality received an honorable mention in the Pedestrian Lighting category at the first edition of the Premio Cielos de Chile for its work at Parque Bicentenario, which became the first park in the country to fully comply with Decreto Supremo N°1 of the Ministry of the Environment before it was mandatory to do so.

A Change of Lights: What the Lighting Regulation Demands

The initiative, led by the Public Lighting team of the Municipality of Vitacura, involved the replacement and expansion of the lighting system, going from 304 to 608 luminaires in pedestrian areas, pathways, entrances, and play areas, with an investment of $891 million Chilean pesos. The results are concrete: 50% less light pollution, elimination of dim zones, and continuous coverage throughout the park.

What is most interesting about the project, however, is not the technical data but the approach behind these decisions. The new luminaires significantly reduce blue light emission, which affects the circadian rhythms of people, fauna, and flora, and lower the color temperature from 4,000 to 2,200 Kelvin, producing warmer, less invasive lighting.

Fundación Cielos de Chile has highlighted this work as proof that getting ahead of regulation is possible. “This is not simply a replacement of luminaires, but a paradigm shift: moving away from asking how much light we want to install, and beginning to ask what the purpose of that light is, where it is directed, and how we are using it”, said Daniela González, Executive Director of Fundación Cielos de Chile.

From the Observatories of the North to a Park in Santiago

The Foundation is not alone in celebrating this milestone. The project was also recognized by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), an institution with a presence in the municipality. “Protecting Chile’s skies is not only a task for the observatories in the north; it is a shared responsibility that begins here, in cities, in neighborhoods, and in parks”, said Itziar de Gregorio-Monsalvo, ESO’s representative in Chile.

The ESO’s perspective is especially relevant. With Chile hosting approximately 40% of the world’s astronomical observation capacity, projects like the Extremely Large Telescope, currently under construction in the Atacama Desert, depend on the lighting regulation being enforced and the country’s skies remaining dark.

What Comes Next: Lighting Regulation Goes National

In October, what Vitacura did as a pioneer will become mandatory for the entire country. The challenge is significant: according to a compliance report recently published by Fundación Cielos de Chile, only 35.5% of luminaires declared before the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC) in the Astronomical Areas currently comply with DS N°1. If the enforcement mechanism is not strengthened before that date, the non-compliance observed in the highest-demand zones risks being replicated at a national scale.

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Chiara Carucci speaks about the night the way someone speaks about a room they know by heart. She is a lighting design professional with over two decades of experience, founder of Noctua studio, and one of the most original voices at the intersection of lighting design, environmental conservation, and cultural heritage. Her work has taken her to collaborate with marine biologists, archaeologists, and ecologists on projects ranging from tourist caves in Italy to natural corridors in Sweden always with the same starting point: poorly designed artificial light causes harm, and that harm can be reduced through rigor, interdisciplinary work, and honesty about the limits of what we know.

At the core of her work is a concept she actively works to counter, one that scientific literature calls the shifting baseline syndrome, or generational environmental amnesia. “Generation after generation, we believe that the state of nature is what we observe”, Carucci explains. “If in this generation nature is degraded, we will not expect to see a better nature. This is our baseline. And our conservation efforts will be dedicated to that degraded nature”.

This phenomenon also applies to our relationship with the night sky. Generations that grow up under polluted skies do not know what is being lost because they never knew it. It is here that Chiara’s work extends from the technical toward the narrative: we must recover memories so that losses become tangible and urgent.

Her Connection to Chile

Carucci is familiar with the work of Fundación Cielos de Chile and celebrated the passage of Chile’s lighting regulation with enthusiasm. For her, working in a country without equivalent regulation, the Chilean experience represents an achievement few nations have reached.

The intersection between her work and the Foundation’s agenda is organic: both stem from the conviction that dark skies, nocturnal biodiversity, and human health are dimensions of the same problem, and that solving it always requires a collective effort. “We cannot protect nature alone”, Carucci concludes. “We always need a team”. She also looks forward to participating in ALAN 2027, the most important international scientific conference on the impacts of artificial light at night, to be held in July of next year in the city of Valparaíso.

Chiara’s Career: Lighting Design for Nocturnal Life

Chiara lives and works in southern Italy, from where she continues to build collaborations with researchers around the world. One of her most emblematic projects involves tourist caves in the Lazio region of Italy, where she worked alongside archaeologists, geologists, and chiropterologists to illuminate the spaces without compromising the bat colonies that inhabit them. The challenge was not only technical: local governors also associated more tourism with more light. Carucci proposed a full mock-up of the cave, walked the routes with local guides, and demonstrated how very little light could create a beautiful atmosphere, tell a story, and attract more visitors. It was this work that earned her the 2024 Wildlife Night Watch Award from DarkSky International, a distinction that recognizes individuals whose decisive actions have protected species sensitive to artificial light at night, whether by restoring natural conditions in protected areas, advancing good lighting policies, or developing education and outreach initiatives on nocturnal biodiversity.

Carucci cites philosopher Taylor Stone to describe her approach: designing for darkness is an act of restoration, for nature, and for people. “I rarely talk about darkness”, she says. “I talk more about the night. The natural night”. Her philosophy on harm encapsulates her values as a practitioner: “We are going to cause harm, but at least let us be conscious of it”. This reinforces a point that Fundación Cielos de Chile consistently promotes: it is not about not illuminating, but about illuminating with an understanding of what is at stake.

All of this comes together in Noctua, the studio Carucci founded around her way of working: bridging heritage and future through sustainable lighting design solutions, one intervention at a time. Noctua operates from the conviction that the problems artificial light creates beyond daytime, for ecosystems, for people, for cultural and natural heritage, are problems that can be solved when approached with rigor, contextual sensitivity, and interdisciplinary teams. The promise is not abstract; it is the result of two decades of projects demonstrating that working with the existing environment, through responsible lighting design, rather than imposing upon it, produces results that are more lasting, more honest, and, why not say it plainly, more beautiful.

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On Friday, March 20, Fundación Cielos de Chile took part as one of the invited institutions at the ESO-ALMA Open Day 2026, celebrated in the framework of Astronomy Day. The event, which addressed topics such as light pollution and dark sky protection, is one of the most significant annual opportunities to bring astronomical knowledge to the general public.

From the start of the day, the facilities welcomed students from public schools across several communes of the Metropolitan Region. From 16:00 onwards, the doors opened to the general public with free activities including telescope-building workshops, a guided visit to the ALMA control room, a meteorite exhibition, and astronomy talks, among many others. Throughout the day, more than 600 people explored the facilities to learn about the progress and care of Chile’s astronomical heritage.

Light pollution knowledge for all ages

Fundación Cielos de Chile participated with a stand where families and students could learn about light pollution and the importance of protecting dark skies as a natural, scientific and cultural heritage. “For us, participating in these events is very important because we can work with all the families and people who approach us on raising awareness about light pollution,” explained Sofía Ramírez, Environmental Education Officer at the Foundation. “It is a problem that undoubtedly affects astronomical observation, but it also has other impacts, such as on biodiversity and human health. In these events, we can bring this sense of importance to people and help them understand how relevant Chile is in global astronomical observation,” she added.

“Being able to participate through a stand and a talk is very important, as it allows us to connect with people through conversation and explanation,” the professional continued. How is this achieved? The stand experience is designed to be engaging and playful: through a classic tic-tac-toe game, visitors learn about sources of light pollution. Another game introduces the migratory journey of storm petrels and how light pollution creates obstacles along their path. The content is presented in a concrete and accessible way, reaching people of all ages, helping them understand how light pollution is generated and what actions individuals and communities can take to reduce it and protect this globally unique heritage, essential for scientific and technological development.

Citizen action

In addition to the stand, the Foundation participated in the short talks programme with a presentation also delivered by Sofía Ramírez. The talk focused on how to use the Glowatch platform, which enables citizens to report sources of light pollution through citizen science.

For the Foundation, participating in this event is also an opportunity to remind families that the dark skies that make all this science possible require active protection, and that this is a shared responsibility.

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At the National Meeting on Physical Activity and Local Sport, organized by the Chilean Association of Municipalities, and as part of Fundación Cielos de Chile’s itinerary during Astronomy Week, Executive Director Daniela González participated as an invited speaker to address the impact of sports lighting on dark skies, human health, and biodiversity, a topic that tends to go unnoticed in municipal sports planning.

The meeting brought together municipal representatives from across Chile for a conversation on sustainable sports lighting. The invitation came from Sportwelt, a company specialised in sports infrastructure and winner of the Sports Lighting category at the Premio Cielos de Chile 2025 for its project at Estadio La Caldera, in the Atacama Region.

The implications of light pollution

During her joint presentation with Sportwelt, Daniela González noted that light pollution goes far beyond its impact on telescopes, adding that urban flora, fauna, and nocturnal ecosystems also depend on certain levels of darkness to function properly.

One of the points that most captured the audience’s attention was the origin of the citizen reports received by the Foundation through its citizen science platform, Glowatch. “A significant share of the reports we receive from residents relates to sports facilities, from all across the country,” explained Daniela, citing concrete cases such as a skatepark on the coastal edge of Arica, a critical nesting area for protected seabirds.

Sports lighting and the light pollution norm: time is running out

The Foundation also reminded the municipal representatives present that the new light pollution regulation, in force since October 2024, explicitly includes sports and recreational lighting, stadiums, multipurpose courts, and neighbourhood courts, within its scope. For the 29 astronomical communes in the north of the country, compliance is immediate. For the rest of Chile, the deadline begins in October 2026. “The clock is already ticking. We all know that developing projects, securing approvals and funding are processes that take months and sometimes years. It’s time to get moving,” warned González.

A global perspective

Also present at the meeting was Camilo Motta, representative of Musco Lighting for South America, an international company specialised in sports lighting that works alongside Sportwelt in Chile. Motta highlighted that while the concern for dark skies is persistent in Chile, it is neither new nor unique to the country. “This is something that has gained momentum worldwide. In Canada, there are already programmes that protect dark skies and establish specific parameters to follow when lighting sports venues,” he noted, adding that organisations such as DarkSky, with whom he works closely, certify stadiums that meet standards of non-contamination towards the surrounding environment and the sky.

When change is visible from 50 kilometres away

Perhaps the most illustrative moment of the meeting was the story of Estadio de Andacollo, shared by Juan Agustín Donoso, representative of Sportwelt. During the handover ceremony for the lighting replacement project, a scientific observatory called to ask when the new lighting would be ready. Upon learning it was already on, the caller went to check the monitors in the observatory’s control room — located 50 kilometres away, and confirmed in real time that the light pollution that had affected the observatory for years had disappeared.

The meeting closed with a clear message from the Foundation: protecting dark skies and ensuring quality sports facilities are not opposing goals. “Dark skies can be protected while guaranteeing the safety of our residents,” summarised González. Good sports lighting design, she added, not only ensures regulatory compliance: it also generates energy efficiency, reduces conflicts with neighbouring communities, and contributes to the protection of a heritage that belongs to all of Chile.

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By 2030, Chile will host more than 60% of the world’s astronomical observation capacity. That same year, the country will host the largest global astronomy event, the thirty-fourth General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). This is no coincidence, as Chile has become the epicenter of astronomy.

Over the past 20 years, the number of centers and institutions developing astronomy has doubled, and the number of people dedicated to astronomy working in the country has tripled. The dark, clear, and world-unique skies have attracted the planet’s most important observatories and established Chile as a benchmark. That’s why March 21st holds special significance.

Since 2013, the country has celebrated Astronomy Day, promoted by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation, with the goal of raising awareness about protecting Chile’s pristine skies. At Fundación Cielos de Chile, we also seek to expand this awareness beyond a single day, making March the astronomy month.

2026 Activities

Thursday, March 19: Astronomy Day 2026 at the Municipal Theater of Viña del Mar (organized by the Institute of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Valparaíso).

Friday, March 20: The European Organisation for Astronomical Research, ESO, will open its doors to the community in a celebration bringing together more than 40 educational and scientific institutions, including Fundación Cielos de Chile, to bring astronomy closer to people of all ages through free activities, talks, and exhibitions in different regions of the country.

Saturday, March 21: Las Campanas Observatory invites the community to Astronomy Day in Vallenar, featuring scientific outreach activities organized by the Observatory in conjunction with educational entities and other organizations, such as Fundación Cielos de Chile, which will participate with an interactive booth to deeply understand the importance of dark skies as natural heritage and how to protect them.

According to the Chilean Astronomical Society, that is the heart of this commemorative date: to be an opportunity to bring knowledge closer to children, young people, and adults.

The call is to learn more about our skies, to value them and counterbalance the rapid and growing advance of light pollution, thus protecting not only world-class research but also human health and biodiversity conservation. Knowing the sky is the first step to defending it.

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Entering the southern sector of Vitacura’s Bicentennial Park from the bright avenue of the same name creates a noticeable change in atmosphere when evening falls. Warm lights, contrasting with the cold glow of the streetlights, invite visitors to enter the 27-hectare park located along the eastern bank of the Mapocho River.

Small spotlights illuminate the access ramp, and beams of warm light bathe the long wall that runs parallel to the street. The route continues along paths whose lights perfectly outline the route for visitors without invading the green areas.

The entire project, which will be inaugurated in October, also includes lighting inside the playgrounds and low-level lanterns to discreetly illuminate the footpaths of the Del Muelle and Humedal lagoons, so as to indicate the way without disturbing the aquatic flora and fauna that live in their waters, such as black-necked swans, taguas, herons, triles, turtles, and fish.

None of this is random. The lighting design for the main park in the eastern sector of the Metropolitan Region, as well as that of Escrivá de Balaguer Park, located to the east, is the result of careful work by municipal professionals.

Lighting design in accordance with lighting standards

Behind the lighting of both parks are Eduardo Monsalve, head of the Public Lighting Department of the Municipality of Vitacura, Valerio Morales, and technician Nicolás Ravanal, who were joined in the initial stage by designer Ignacia Soto.

What began as a project for the Diploma in Lighting that Monsalve and Morales completed at the Catholic University was later evaluated and approved by the municipality for implementation. This resulted in two clear examples of urban lighting that combine safety for users, respect for biodiversity, and care for the dark skies.

“We wanted these two projects, located in emblematic parks in the municipality, to stand out from a lighting point of view by reducing artificial light pollution and for their positive impact on people’s health and biodiversity, which are the virtues sought by the New Lighting Regulations,” says Eduardo Monsalve.

Valerio Morales explains that in the case of Bicentennial Park, “we first developed a script that allowed us to define the lighting objectives, which can be summarized as the concept of light as the main guide for the experience,” giving meaning to the lighting. For this reason, the design considers differentiated lighting for walking through the park, marking the entrance, illuminating the playgrounds, and walking around the lagoons.

Lighting that provides safety

The design and modeling work for the lighting in both parks began with hand sketches and then moved on to the free DIALux evo software, which also allowed the luminaires offered by the bidders participating in the tender for their replacement to be simulated.

The professionals comment that their proposal was not without challenges, alluding to the fact that cold light, mostly used in public lighting, is often associated with greater brightness and safety. “We had the opportunity to empirically demonstrate the error of this belief, breaking the paradigm and adjusting to the new lighting regulations,” says Eduardo Monsalve.

“By modeling the lighting levels required by the standard, we were able to create very homogeneous lighting, controlling the lighting and technical factors at the design stage. And in practice, we confirmed that this allows you to feel safe when walking through the park. The dark areas that used to be there are no longer there, and you can easily see who is coming towards you from 50 meters away,” explains Valerio Morales. “And you can see everything that is happening around you clearly, which gives you that feeling of safety,” adds Monsalve.

The reception from neighbors has been very positive. “We have not received any complaints. Some have commented on the contrast between the cold light of the street and that of the parks, but once inside, they do not notice dark areas and their eyes adjust. When we explain that this lighting complies with the new regulations and that it exists to protect the environment, they understand and accept it,” concludes Nicolás Ravanal.

Valerio Morales (left) and Eduardo Monsalve are part of the Vitacura Municipality team in charge of the lighting design for both parks.

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Among the national emblems of the world, stars are a recurring symbol. Whether they have 5, 6, 12, or 24 points, they appear on the flags of 59 independent states. The Chilean flag is one of them. However, unlike others that feature constellations or multiple stars, a “lone star” stands out against the blue background in the upper left corner of the Chilean flag. White and five-pointed, this symbol is steeped in history and meanings that reflect our country’s identity.

The current Chilean flag has more than 200 years of history. Its concept and main elements were devised by War Minister José Ignacio Zenteno during the administration of Bernardo O’Higgins, whom some sources also cite as one of its creators.

Meanwhile, the design is attributed to Spanish military officer Antonio Arcos, although some historians also point to Gregorio de Andía y Varela as the author. The tricolor flag with its star was legalized by decree on October 18, 1817, but was used publicly for the first time on February 12, 1818, during the proclamation of Chile’s independence.

This design succeeded two other emblems that marked the beginnings of the republic and did not have a star: the first flag, known as the Old Fatherland flag (1812-1814), had three horizontal stripes of blue, white, and yellow. Then the Transition Flag was adopted, which replaced yellow with red, but it did not last long.

The multiple meanings of the star

The current flag retained the three colors of the transitional flag, but with a new arrangement that included the distinctive lone star. Over time, its design was refined. According to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “in 1854 the proportion of the colors was fixed and in 1912 the diameter of the star was defined.”

In the symbolism of the flag, blue represents the sky and the Pacific Ocean, white represents the snow of the Andes Mountains, and red represents the blood shed by the heroes of independence. However, the meaning of the star has multiple interpretations.

One of the most widespread versions is that the star symbolizes the three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial, which ensure the integrity of the nation.

Other interpretations point to a deeper, more ancestral origin. According to philosopher and academic Gastón Soublette, in his work La Estrella de Chile (The Star of Chile), Bernardo O’Higgins may have been inspired by the star of Arauco, a symbol of the Mapuche people known as Guñelve or Wüñelfe, which represents the planet Venus or the morning star and is depicted as an eight-pointed star.

In fact, Soublette and other authors argue that O’Higgins’ original design incorporated a five-pointed star with an eight-pointed asterisk embroidered inside it, merging both symbols.

This connection is also reinforced by the fact that the star was part of the iconography of the Lautaro Lodge, an organization to which O’Higgins and other Spanish American independence leaders belonged.

A star that connects us to the skies of Chile

It is now possible to propose a new interpretation of this national symbol that connects the star on the flag with the skies of Chile. Our country is world-renowned for having some of the most pristine skies on the planet, which by the end of this decade will allow the country to concentrate over 60% of the world’s astronomical observation capacity.

From this perspective, the lone star in the deep blue of the flag could also be a tribute to this unique natural heritage and a reminder that Chile has a unique window to the universe, open to global astronomy in its quest for knowledge.

However, this privilege is fragile. Today, light pollution threatens the darkness of our skies, putting both astronomical research and a fundamental part of the country’s identity at risk.

That is why, in this month of national celebrations, the call is to take care of this national heritage. Protecting our skies is protecting a part of who we are, ensuring that the star that represents us on the flag continues to symbolize the infinite stars that shine over Chile night after night.

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Check out the best moments of PokeSTGO‘s Dark Skies Route held at Balmaceda Park in Providencia. On this tour, dozens of enthusiastic PokémonGO players joined in protecting the night skies by sending their reports of light pollution cases through the Glowatch tool.

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Watch the webinar here:

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A quarter-century since its creation, the Chilean Astronomical Society (SOCHIAS) has elected its new executive board. For the first time, it will be composed exclusively of women: Chiara Mazzucchelli (UDP) as president; Andrea Mejías (UCH), first vice president; Julie Nantais (UNAB), second vice president; Daniela Olave (UTALCA), executive director; Mayte Alfaro (UCENTRAL), secretary; and Yasna Órdenes (UDP), treasurer.

25 Years Since Its Foundation: The Role of SOCHIAS

SOCHIAS’s new board highlights the priorities for this new chapter of the organization. Strengthening the ties between science and society is one of them. “Whether through education and scientific communication, or through technology transfer. How discoveries and tools developed by astronomy can be used in other areas and benefit society,” commented Andrea Mejías, the vice president, in conversation with Fundación Cielos de Chile.

Another priority is moving towards a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse astronomy. “I believe it’s important that astronomy isn’t just something from the north of our country but can be represented in different areas, and that more institutions appear in other regions,” she added.

Chile, the World Astronomy Capital

One of the major challenges upcoming for the organization will be hosting the International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly in Chile in 2030. This gathering, the most significant in the global sector, will bring together over three thousand astronomers from various countries, once again placing Chile as a central player in world astronomy.

SOCHIAS emphasizes Chile’s leadership in this field. “Beyond the presence of telescopes, it’s important for the country to translate this into scientific and technological leadership. It’s crucial to continue investing in science, building human capital, strengthening existing international ties, and maintaining astronomy as a fundamental element for our country’s development,” stated the board.

Regarding the installation of the world’s largest telescopes in Chile in the coming years, they call for an active role: “We must leverage this potential to make discoveries at the frontier of knowledge. Chile must not just be a host; it should be a protagonist.”

Light Pollution: The Main Threat to Astronomy in Chile

However, they warn that we are at a crucial moment where one of the main threats to the future of astronomical research in the country is light pollution. “We are at a point where urban and energy development are emerging as potential areas of concern,” they cautioned.

Therefore, one of SOCHIAS’s top tasks will be to promote a national culture of dark sky protection. “We have the goal, mission, and vision to work with those who can make decisions about this, and to extend this cultural promotion of sky care nationally,” they emphasized.

While they acknowledge that the new lighting regulation has been an advance, they believe there’s still room for improvement: “Better oversight mechanisms and greater coordination between institutions are needed to make these measures effective.” In parallel, they stress the importance of continuing to raise public awareness. “Chilean society is increasingly identifying with astronomy. We believe that the idea of Chile as an astronomical country is quite established. It’s essential that communication, outreach, and educational initiatives continue to strengthen this bond and promote awareness about sky protection,” they noted. “We must continue educating and informing. To protect the sky is to protect part of who we are, preserving our identity, our environment, and the scientific future of the country,” concluded the board.

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