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The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) operates facilities in Chile because it offers good weather, good seeing, a

by marlor 3y ago

The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) operates facilities in Chile because it offers good weather, good seeing, and it is in the Southern Hemisphere. None of the ESO’s instruments are in Europe. They’re all in Chile. It would make no sense to place an instrument for Southern Hemisphere observation in Europe. However, administration is out of Germany, and the captured data is processed by researchers mostly in Europe. There are also many amateur remote hosting facilities for telescopes in Chile. It really has great atmospheric conditions. If my telescope is in one of these facilities, is it no longer my telescope?

LaGrange 3y ago
[flagged]
- db48x 3y ago
  Wait, so you are saying that because 200 years ago Chile was a colony of Spain, the modern Chilean government is not allowed to enter into a mutually beneficial partnership with anyone in Europe lest they be accused of "colonialism"? And are you also saying that a European University that spends a billion or two euros designing, building, and operating the thing can't call it a European telescope because it is located in Chile? That must be the world's stupidest problem. People sell the naming rights to things all of the time. Plus, you state that "Europe can take all of the benefits", which is simply untrue. Observatories are funded by selling observation time to scientists. Any astronomer anywhere in the world will be able to buy time on the telescope. Their discoveries benefit everyone in the world. Meanwhile Chile gets a slice of that money, plus a constant stream of astronomers visiting the country to use the thing. And all it cost them was some land that is literally useless for any other purpose. Seems like a great deal for Chile.
- SllX 3y ago
  Chile isn't playing host to ESO owned and operated telescopes without their knowledge and consent, but ESO still owns the telescopes.

by marlor 3y ago

LaGrange 3y ago

[flagged]

db48x 3y ago
Wait, so you are saying that because 200 years ago Chile was a colony of Spain, the modern Chilean government is not allowed to enter into a mutually beneficial partnership with anyone in Europe lest they be accused of "colonialism"? And are you also saying that a European University that spends a billion or two euros designing, building, and operating the thing can't call it a European telescope because it is located in Chile? That must be the world's stupidest problem. People sell the naming rights to things all of the time. Plus, you state that "Europe can take all of the benefits", which is simply untrue. Observatories are funded by selling observation time to scientists. Any astronomer anywhere in the world will be able to buy time on the telescope. Their discoveries benefit everyone in the world. Meanwhile Chile gets a slice of that money, plus a constant stream of astronomers visiting the country to use the thing. And all it cost them was some land that is literally useless for any other purpose. Seems like a great deal for Chile.
SllX 3y ago
Chile isn't playing host to ESO owned and operated telescopes without their knowledge and consent, but ESO still owns the telescopes.