What science questions will astronomy need to answer in the 2040s? Submit your White Papers by 15 December 2025. Under its Expanding Horizons initiative, ESO has initiated the process of selecting its next transformational facility, to start operations in the 2040s. This process is overseen by a Senior Science Committee (SSC), whose current focus is to identify the key scientific challenges that will face astronomy in the 2040s. Understanding what these science challenges are will ensure that science will be a driving factor in later identifying the facility. 

With the release of the La Silla Paranal telescope schedule, the Phase 2 preparation for runs scheduled in Service Mode begins. The deadline for the submission of the Phase 2 material for Period 116 is Thursday, 7 August 2025.  

As announced in the Newsletter June 2024 and discussed in more detail in the Messenger n. 193, ESO has been planning to move the Call for Proposals to a Yearly Cycle in the course of 2025. The plan has been discussed and consolidated with the Scientific Technical Committee and the Users Committee. Following an intense preparatory phase and after the positive outcome of an internal readiness review, the Director General has approved the move to the Yearly Cycle in P117, for observations starting in May 2026. More details will be provided in the Call for Proposals to be released in mid August.

ESO is pleased to announce the Science Verification (SV) for GRAVITY+ Adaptive Optics with Laser Guide Stars on VLTI-UT. The upgraded GRAVITY+ Adaptive Optics (GPAO) offer improved sensitivity and/or performance for the VLTI instruments GRAVITY and MATISSE. For example, under the best atmospheric turbulence conditions, the GRAVITY spectrograph can reach K=19.5 with a fringe tracking source K<13 and a tip-tilt star G_RP<17, offering unique opportunities of observations of new classes of astrophysical objects.

ESO is organising a conference, dubbed “VLT beyond 2030”, in Garching near Munich (Germany) on 26-30 January 2026. ESO aims to maintain the VLT and VLTI at the science forefront of astrophysical research in the ELT era. The development of the facilities follows planning that is discussed with the ESO governing bodies to derive the best synergies amongst the facilities. As part of this process, the “VLT beyond 2030” January 2026 meeting will review science topics, emerging technologies and expanding parameter spaces relevant for the VLT/I in the next decade and beyond.