The climate crisis might change astronomy forever

The world’s largest telescopes, which show us the deepest, farthest, oldest reaches of our universe, are located in places with little rain and few clouds.

And for decades, these telescopes have been changing our views of the cosmos.

In Chile, average temperatures have risen 1.5 degrees celsius in the last 40 years. Telescopes need to be cool to operate, so rising temperatures threaten their very ability to function.

Air pollution has also affected astronomers around the world.

Tiny particles in the air called aerosols, which result from cars, power plants, and factories burning fossil fuels, get in the way of light traveling from space to our telescopes.

Scientists worry that the climate crisis will fundamentally change the weather conditions on the tops of mountains, where telescopes are traditionally built in the cool, dry air.

"We have a unique perspective on the issue because we understand the finite nature of the Earth," says Travis Rector, an astronomer and chair of the sustainability committee at the American Astronomical Society.