The ESO-Chile Joint Committee announced on January 13th the projects selected for its 2025 National Funding call. This initiative allocates over $500 million (CLP) to projects in astronomical research, advanced human capital training, technological development, and scientific outreach.
This fund, active since 1995 as part of the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) scientific cooperation program, aims to boost the country’s scientific and technological development by leveraging the unique conditions of northern Chile’s skies, home to facilities such as La Silla, Paranal, ALMA, and the future Extremely Large Telescope (ELT).
“Ventana Celeste” (Celestial Window) is one of the scientific outreach projects awarded in the ESO-Chile Government call. It is led by Assistant Professor Alessio Bellino from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering Design (Dilab). The project aims to popularize astronomical knowledge through an innovative physical-digital experience based on embodied learning, overcoming barriers of cost, technical complexity, and light pollution.
The proposal integrates an immersive museum installation—where users manipulate a replica telescope with interchangeable physical eyepieces over an LED-lit world map simulating varying levels of light pollution—and a free web application that transforms smartphones into digital telescopes for home exploration.
The project seeks to empower the general public—especially young people and communities with limited access to science—with tangible tools that facilitate the understanding of fundamental astronomical concepts. The initiative will be exhibited in museums, planetariums, and public libraries, ensuring educational sustainability through open access and accessible technology.
