The Messenger

The Messenger is a quarterly journal presenting ESO's activities to the public. Please direct your subscription requests to <information@eso.org>.

For the online Messenger Portable Document Format (PDF) is used. PDF is a portable document standard, with significant advantages over Postscript. To display PDF files you can either use Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 5 or higher), XPDF or Alladin Ghostscript - all those viewers are free. Please note that the files do not always load properly with some browsers. It is therefore recommended to first save the file to disk before opening it.

If you plan to write an article, please read the Style guide for submission of ESO Messenger papers.

    Messenger 2008

    June 2008 (No. 132)

  • Highlights include:
    • T. de Zeeuw: The Perfect Machine
    • M. Sarazin et al.: The Ground Layer Seeing on Paranal
    • M. Kissler-Patig et al.: HAWK-I Science Verification
    • M. Kraus et al.: The ALMA Antenna Transporters
    • M. G. Haehnelt et al.: Hunting for the Building Blocks
    The Messenger can be downloaded in full as a PDF file or as single articles from the detailed table of contents:

    • March 2008 (No. 131)

  • Highlights include:
    • R. Davies et al: Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics without Tip-tilt
    • B. Nikolic et al.: Phase Correction for ALMA: Adaptive Opticsin the Submillimetre
    • M. van den Ancker et al.: A Multi-Wavelength Study of the 2003-2006 Outburst of V1647 Orionis
    • C. Evans et al.: The VLT-FLAMES Survey of Massive Stars
    • F. Primas et al.: The 2007 Users Feedback Campaign
    The Messenger can be downloaded in full as a PDF file or as single articles from the detailed table of contents:

    • Messenger 2007

    December 2007 (No. 130)

  • Highlights include:
    • J. Vernet et al.: Coming Soon on Stage: X-shooter
    • S. Stanghellini: Status of the ALMA Antenna Production
    • S. Aigrain et al: The Monitor Project: Tracking the Evolution of Low-Mass and Pre-Main-Sequence Stars
    • J. Fynbo et al: Gamma-Ray Bursts as Cosmological Probes: from Concept to Reality
    • A. Moorwood: Report on the Conference Science with the VLT in the ELT Era
    The Messenger can be downloaded in full as a PDF file:

    • September 2007 (No. 129)

  • Highlights include:
    • G. Siringo et al.: A New Era in Submillimetre Continuum Astronomy has Begun: LABOCA Starts Operation on APEX
    • E. Marchetti et al.: On-sky Testing of the Multi-Conjugate?Adaptive Optics Demonstrator
    • C. Araujo-Hauck et al.: Future Wavelength Calibration Standards at ESO: the Laser Frequency Comb
    • C. Spiering: Status and Perspectives of Astroparticle Physics in Europe
    • M. Hilker et al: Weighing Ultracompact Dwarf Galaxies?in the Fornax Cluster
    The Messenger can be downloaded in full as a PDF file:

    • June 2007 (No. 128)

  • Highlights include:
    • J. Palous, P. Hadrava: Astronomy in the Czech Republic
    • C. Haupt & H. Rykaczewski: Progress of the ALMA Project
    • R. Siebenmorgen et al.: Exploring the Near-infrared at High Spatial and Spectral Resolution: First Results from CRIRES Science Verification
    • W. Freudling et al.: Towards Precision Photometry with FORS: A Status Report
    • U. Grothkopf et al.: Using the h-index to explore the scientific impact of the VLT
    The Messenger can be downloaded in full as a PDF file or as single articles from the detailed table of contents:

    • March 2007 (No. 127)

  • Highlights include:
    • X. Barcons: Astronomy in Spain
    • R. Gilmozzi, J. Spyromilio: The European Extremely Large Telescope
    • F. Malbet et al.: AMBER Science
    • C. Franson et al. and J. Danziger: 20 years of SN 1987A
    • M. Grenon: Nature around the ALMA site
    The Messenger can be downloaded in full as a PDF file or as single articles from the detailed table of contents:

Messenger 2006

  • Highlights include: S. Warren et al.: Early Science Results from the UKIDSS ESO Public Survey; P. van der Werf et al.: Starburst Galaxies Under the Microscope: High Resolution Observations with VISIR and SINFONI; M. Hetterscheidt et al.: Probing the Universe Using a Mostly Virtual Survey: The Garching-Bonn Deep Survey; H. Kaeufl et al.: Good Vibrations: Report from the Commissioning of CRIRES; H. Bonnet et al.: Enabling Fringe Tracking at the VLTI.
    No. 126, December 2006 (60pp) can be downloaded in full as a 38 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents.
  • Highlights include: J.-L. Beuzit et al.: SPHERE, a 'Planet Finder' Instrument for the VLT; A. Richichi, A. Moorwood: Second-generation VLTI Instruments; A. Baudry et al.: The ALMA Back-End; J. Peacock, P. Schneider: The ESO-ESA Working Group on Fundamental Cosmology; as well as six article on science with the VLT.
    No. 125, September 2006 (60pp) can be downloaded in full as a 23 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents.
  • Highlights include: R. Bacon et al.: MUSE, a 2nd generation instrument for the VLT; R. Güsten et al.: APEX; A. Zijlstra et al.: The Compact Discs of Post-AGB stars; M.I. Wilkinson et al.: Probing the Dark Matter Content of LGDS Galaxies with FLAMES; F. Courbin et al.: The Host Galaxies of the Brightest Quasars.
    No. 124, June 2006 (48pp) can be downloaded in full as a 20.4 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents.
  • Highlights include: Spain joining ESO; G. Monnet & R. Gilmozzi: Status of the European ELT; R. Arsenault et al: The VLT Adaptive Optics Facility Project; P. Andreani & T. Wilson: The ALMA-Herschel Synergies; as well as nine articles on science with the VLT.
    No. 123, March 2006 (80pp - with annual index 2005) can be downloaded in full as a 21.4 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents.

Messenger 2005

  • Highlights include: S. D'Odorico: Instrument Concepts for the OWL Telescope; G. Argandona, F. Mirabel: Inauguration of the APEX Telescope; E. Vanzella et al.: GOODS' Look at Galaxies in the Young Universe; A.-M. Lagrange: ASTRONET: Towards a Strategic Plan for European Astronomy.
    No. 122, December 2005 (56pp) can be downloaded in full as a 6.7 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents.
  • Highlights: I. Hook et al.: Science with Extremely Large Telescopes; H.-U. Käufl et al.: Deep Impact at ESO Telescopes; W. Gieren et al.: Measuring Improved Distances to Nearby Galaxies: The Araucaria Project; S. Lilly et al.: The zCOSMOS Redshift Survey.
    No. 121, September 2005 (72pp) can be downloaded in full as a 10.0 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents.
  • Highlights: M. Capaccioli et al.: The VLT Survey Telescope; F. Pont et al.: Transiting Extra-Solar Planets; F. Pepe et al.: On the Track of Very Low-Mass Planets with HARPS; S. Gillessen et al.: First Science with SINFONI.
    No. 120, June 2005 (60pp) can be downloaded in full as a 10.0 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents.
  • Highlights: Scientific Strategy Planning at ESO; M. Wittkowski et al.: Observing with the ESO VLT Interferometer; E. Pantin et al.: VISIR, a Taste of Scientific Potential; U. Grothkopf et al.: Comparison of Science Metrics among Observatories.
    No. 119, March 2005 (68pp - with annual index 2004) can be downloaded in full as a 8.0 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents.

Messenger 2004

  • Highlights: D.R. Silva & M. Peron:VLT Science Products Produced by Pipelines; G.H. Tan et al.:The European Receivers for ALMA; C. Lidman:Observing Distant Type Ia Supernovae with the VLT; J. Bergeron et al.:The Large Programme "Cosmic Evolution of the IGM"; R. Cayrel & M. Spite:The First Stars; B. Nordström et al.:A Livelier Picture of the Solar Neighbourhood.
    No. 118, December 2004 (72pp) can be downloaded in full as a 10.4 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents.
  • Highlights: K. Mattila et al.:Astronomy in Finland; P.O. Lagage et al.:Successful Commissioning of VISIR; H. Bonnet et al.:First Light of SINFONI; J.P. Emerson et al.:VISTA; N. Christlieb et al.:The Stellar Content of the Hamburg/ESO Survey.
    No. 117, September 2004 (72pp) can be downloaded in full as a 9.9 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents.
  • Highlights: P. Ballester et al.:The MIDI Data Flow: First Observing Period; G. Mathys: Five Years of Science Operations of the VLT on Paranal; I, Appenzeller et al.: Exploring Cosmic Evolution with the FORS Deep Field; R. Srianand et al.: Constraining the Time Variation of the Fine Structure Constant; H.M.J. Boffin & R. West: Venus Transit 2004: A Tremendous Success.
    No. 116, June 2004 (52 pp) can be downloaded in full as a 6.6 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents.
  • Highlights: Five Years Anniversary of the VLT; A. Moorwood & S. D'Odorico: New VLT Instruments Underway; M.R.L. Cioni et al.: DENIS results on the Magellanic Clouds; M.D. Lehnert & M. Bremer: High Redshift Galaxies and the Sources of Reionization; R. West & H.M.J. Boffin: The Venus Transit 2004 (VT-2004) Programme.
    No. 115, March 2004 (60 pp) can be downloaded in full as a 7.0 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents with a link to individual abstracts and papers.

Messenger 2003

  • Highlights: A. Moorwood: CRIRES takes shape; S. Bagnulo et al.: The UVES Paranal Observatory Project; M. Mayor et al.: Settings new standards with HARPS; A. Richichi and F. Paresce: Harvesting scientific results with the VLTI.
    No. 114, December 2003 (60 pp) can be downloaded in full as a 17.1 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents with a link to individual abstracts and papers.
  • Highlights: R. Arsenault et al.: MACAO-VLTI First Light: Adaptive Optics at the Service of Interferometry; Ch. Leinert et al.: MIDI Combines Light from the VLTI: the Start of 10 microns Interferometry at ESO; and G. Rudnick et al.:Studying High Redshift Galaxy Clusters with the ESO Distant Cluster Survey. No. 113, September 2003 (76 pp) can be either downloaded in full as a 23.2 MBytes PDF file or you can look at the detailed table of contents with a link to individual abstracts and papers.
  • Highlights: T. Ott et al.: Inward Bound: Studying the Galactic Centre with NAOS/CONICA; M. Pettini: Early Galactic Chemical Evolution with UVES; and ESO and NSF Sign Agreement on ALMA. Green Light for World's Most Powerful Radio Observatory. No. 112, June 2003, 60 pp (16.8 MBytes, PDF).
  • No. 111, March 2003, 52 pp (11.8 MBytes, PDF).

Messenger 2002

  • Highlights: Installation and Commissioning of FLAMES, the VLT Multifibre Facility and HARPS, ESO's Coming Planet Searcher. No. 110, December 2002, 52 pp (9.4 MBytes, PDF). A high resolution version is also available (27.7 MBytes)
  • Highlight: ESO Turns 40: Perspectives from the Directors General, Past and Present. No. 109, September 2002, 60 pp (13.9 MBytes, PDF).
  • Highlights: United Kingdom Becomes Tenth Member of ESO and Status of VLT Second Generation Instrumentation No. 108, July 2002, 48 pp (9.4 MBytes, PDF).
  • Highlights: NAOS+CONICA at YEPUN: First VLT Adaptive Optics System Sees First Light and The Atacama Large Millimeter Array No. 107, March 2002, 48 pp (4.3 MBytes, PDF).

Messenger 2001

Messenger 2000

Messenger 1999

Messenger 1998

Messenger 1997

Messenger 1996

Messenger 1995

  • Due to technical problems the ESO Messenger No. 82, December 1995 is only available as paper version.
  • No. 81, September 1995, 36 pp (5.5 MByte, PDF). Counting downwards from p. 36, so you get the table of contents first.
  • In Postscript format as messenger-no.80.ps.gz (3.5 MByte)