In the remote Chilean desert, ESO’s Very Large Telescope fires four brilliant lasers into the night sky, connecting modern astronomy with ancient Andean traditions. Credit: F. Millour/ESO
High above Chile’s Atacama Desert, four golden beams pierce the night—revealing both the secrets of the Milky Way and the echoes of Indigenous star lore.
A Light Show That Connects Past and Present
Beneath the clearest skies on Earth, astronomers at the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) fire four intense lasers into the heart of our galaxy. These beams, powerful tools of modern science, cut through the darkness of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. Yet, they do more than guide astronomical observations—they mirror an ancient cultural belief: that the cosmos is ordered by the power of four.
As the lasers ascend into space, they are accompanied by the faint glow of zodiacal light—a ghostly shimmer created when sunlight reflects off dust particles floating between the planets. This delicate glow, visible only in the world’s darkest skies, adds an ethereal backdrop to an already mesmerizing scene.
A Sacred Number in the Sky
In the high Andes, the number four carries deep spiritual meaning. Among various Indigenous communities, such as the Mapuche, the universe is divided into four sacred layers, each filled with divine forces, ancestors, and celestial beings. These realms—collectively called Wenu Mapu—are believed to guide the natural order and uphold harmony between the forces of good and evil.
Similarly, in Andean cosmology, the Chakana—a stepped cross symbol—represents four bridges connecting the physical and spiritual realms. It’s a guide to understanding life, death, the cosmos, and the unseen. The number four signifies balance, direction, and the unity of opposites.
Lasers and Legends: A Meeting of Worlds
Although designed for precise astronomical measurements, the VLT’s laser beams offer more than just scientific utility. Symbolically, they reflect the ancient idea of four pathways leading to cosmic understanding. These modern instruments, glowing against a star-strewn sky, become unexpected echoes of Indigenous beliefs—linking technology and tradition across millennia. Dailyscitech
It’s a reminder that humanity’s fascination with the stars isn’t just about data and discovery—it’s also about meaning, story, and connection. Dailyscitech
A Shared Universe of Wonder
From the ancient builders of the Chakana to the astronomers mapping galaxies, we are all guided by light. Whether it’s a sacred glow in the night sky or a laser pointed at the stars, each beam carries a question: What’s out there—and how do we fit into it? Dailyscitech
What do you think ancient civilizations would say about today’s sky-bound technologies? Could they see them as part of the same cosmic story?
