Messenger No. 96 (June 1999)

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1-1 (PDF)
ESO
View of Northern Chile

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96....1.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
2-3 (PDF)
Giacconi,R.
Inauguration Ceremony of Paranal Observatory - 5 March 1999 Discourse of Prof. Riccardo Giacconi, Director General of ESO

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96Q...2G
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Giacconi,R.
AA(Director General of ESO)
Abstract:
President Frei, Minister Arellano, Ambassadors, Ministers, President of the ESO Council, Council members, Intendente of the II Region, Civilian and Military Authorities, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
2-2 (PDF)
Giacconi,R.
Introduction to the ESO Annual Report 1998 by Prof. Riccardo Giacconi, Director General of ESO

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96R...2G
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Giacconi,R.
AA(Director General of ESO)
Abstract:
1998 has been a banner year for ESO. Success has crowned the dedicated effort of the entire staff in a number of endeavours of the highest significance for European astronomy.
4-4 (PDF)
ESO
Discourse of Mr. Grage, President of the ESO Council

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96....4.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Your Excellency the President of the Republic Don Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle and Mrs. Martita Larraecheade Frei, Minister Arellano, Minister Guerzoni, Ambassadors, Heads of Delegations and Council Colleagues, Prof. Rubbia, Director General, Members of Parliament, Authorities from Antofagasta and Taltal, Distinguished Guests.
5-6 (PDF)
ESO
Discourse of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Chile, Don Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96....5.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Es una gran satisfacción para mí inaugurar lo que será, dentro de breve tiempo, el telescopio más poderoso del mundo, que viene a responder tan claramente a la necesidad esencial del ser humano de explorar y conocer los orígenes y misterios del universo.
6-6 (PDF)
J. Bergeron
The VLT Opening Symposium

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96....6B
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Bergeron, J.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
The beginning of the VLT era was marked by two major events: the VLT Official Inauguration Ceremony at Paranal on 5 March 1999, preceded by the VLT Opening Symposium on 1–4 March. ESO is indebted to Professor J.A. Music Tomicic, Rector of the Universidad Católica del Norte, for hosting this symposium. Another major event occurred on the night of 4 March: First light was achieved ahead of schedule at Kueyen, the second 8.2-m VLT unit telescope.

Telescopes and Instrumentation

7-11 (PDF)
R. Kurz, P. Shaver
The ALMA project.

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96....7K
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Kurz, R.; Shaver, P.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO)
Abstract:
The Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA) is the new name for the merger of the major millimetre array projects - the European Large Southern Array (LSA), the U.S. Millimetre Array (MMA), and possibly the Japanese Large Millimetre and Submillimetre Array (LMSA), into one global project. This will be the largest ground-based astronomy project of the next decade after VLT/VLTI, and, together with the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST), one of the two major new facilities for world astronomy coming into operation by the end of the next decade.
11-11 (PDF)
ESO
A First for the VLT: Observations of the Gamma-Ray Burst GRB990510, and Discovery of Linear Polarisation

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96...11.
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
International teams of astronomers are now busy working on new and exciting data obtained in May with telescopes at the European Southern Observatory (ESO).

12-13 (PDF)
A. Renzini
FORS1 and ISAAC science verification at Antu/UT1

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96...12R
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Renzini, A.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
The UT1/Antu Science Verification (SV) programme with the Test Camera, which was carried out in August 1998, included one major project (the multicolour coverage of the HDF-S) plus a number of short programmes meant to address problems in a wide range of astrophysical areas. For the SV of the two instruments now attached to UT1/ Antu (FORS1 and ISAAC) the same approach was followed, giving high priority to those programmes that potentially serve a wide section of the community. The aim of this strategy was to maximise the probability success and the scientific return, while providing the best possible service to the community and pushing to the limit the capabilities of telescope and instruments. The many goals of the SV of the VLT and its instruments are extensively discussed elsewhere (Giacconi et al. 1999, A&A, 343, L1, and references therein).
13-15 (PDF)
A. Renzini
UT2/Kueyen: a stellar astronomer's dream comes true.

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96...13R
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Renzini, A.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Stellar astrophysics is today a mature science. Many of the fundamental questions have received reasonably satisfactory answers, leaving more subtle, harder and harder problems yet to be solved. A typical example of success is offered by the quantitative knowledge of stellar evolution. We have now a fairly complete understanding on how stars of all masses evolve, from the main sequence all the way to the white dwarf stage or supernova explosion. Perhaps it is not too exaggerated to say that just details remain here and there to be worked out. On the other hand,
15-16 (PDF)
ESO
Satellite image showing the proposed location of ALMA

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96...15.
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
15-18 (PDF)
G. Monnet
VLT instrumentation renewal.

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96...15M
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Monnet, G.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
At the time of this writing, ESO is embarked on the so-called first-generation VLT instrumentation plan, with eleven different instruments for as many foci of the VLT, plus four instruments for the VLTI. When this major effort is completed around 2003 - 2004, one will then be faced with the prospect of almost immediately restarting new instrumentation, as the first instruments installed will be well in the midst of their likely 10 - 12 years useful life.
19-21 (PDF)
P. Ballester, A. Disarò et al.
The VLT data quality control system.

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96...19B
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Ballester, P.; Disarò, A.; Dorigo, D.; Modigliani, A.; Pizarro de La Iglesia, J. A.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO) AE(ESO)
Abstract:
Conducting service observing at large ground-based observatories profits from delivering standard data products to the users. The operational applications needed to quantitatively assess VLT calibration and science data are provided by the VLT Quality Control system (QC). It allows to populate and maintain the pipeline calibration database, as well as to measure and verify the quality of observations. The QC system also provides models allowing users to predict instrument performance.
References:
[1] D. Silva and P. J. Quinn, "VLT Data Flow
operations news," The Messenger 90,
1997.
[2] P. Grosbøland M. Peron, "The VLT Data
Flow concept," in Astron. Data Anal. Soft.
Syst. VI, G. Hunt and H. Payne, eds., vol.
125 of ASP Conf. Series, 1997.
[3] P. J. Quinn, 1996, "The Data Flow System,"
The Messenger 84, 30.
[4] P. Ballester, M.R. Rosa, P. Grosbøl, 1998,
"Data Quality Control and Instrument
Modeling", SPIE Proceedings 3349,
"Observatory Operations To Optimize
Scientific Return", Kona, Hawaii, 20–21
March 1998.
22-22 (PDF)
E. Allaert
The VLT Software Workshop

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96...22A
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Allaert, E.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
In May 1997 ESO has organised a first workshop on writing software for the VLT and its instruments, addressing thereby the needs of various consortia and also newly recruited ESO software engineers. Since then, the important milestones of the first light for Antu (UT1) and Kueyen (UT2) and a couple of instruments have been reached, showing that specifications have been met or even exceeded. This achievement was possible also thanks to the consistent and rigorous application of software engineering methodologies, use of common software and imposing software standards. All this makes the VLT software very homogeneous and robust.

Reports from Observers

23-25 (PDF)
C. Aerts, P. De Cat et al.
Long-term spectroscopic monitoring of pulsating B stars: a tribute to the CAT.

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96...23A
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Aerts, C.; De Cat, P.; Eyer, L.
AA(Instituut voor Sterrenkunde, Leuven, Belgium) AB(Instituut voor Sterrenkunde, Leuven, Belgium) AC(Instituut voor Sterrenkunde, Leuven, Belgium)
Abstract:
Asteroseismology is a modern term for the study of the internal structure of multiply-periodic pulsating stars. Good candidates to perform asteroseismology of massive stars are the multiperiodic B-type pulsators, i.e. the β Cep stars and the slowly pulsating B stars.
References:
Aerts, C., 1994, Mode identification in pulsating
stars, In IAU Symposium 162: Pulsation,
Rotation and Mass Loss in Early-Type
Stars, eds. L.A. Balona, H.F. Henrichs &
J.M. LeContel, Kluwer Academic Publishers,
75.
Aerts, C., De Cat, P., Peeters, E., et al., 1999,
Selection of a sample of bright southern
Slowly Pulsating B stars for long-term photometric
and spectroscopic monitoring,
A&A 343, 872.
Aerts, C., De Cat, P., Waelkens, 1998a,
Slowly Pulsating B Stars – New Insights
from Hipparcos, In IAU S185: New eyes
to see inside the Sun and stars, eds.
F. L. Deubner, J. Christensen-Dalsgaard,
D. Kurtz, Kluwer Academic Publishers,
295.
Aerts, C., De Mey, K., De Cat, P., Waelkens,
C., 1998b, Pulsations in early-type binaries,
In A Half Century of Stellar Pulsation
Interpretations, eds. P.A. Bradley & J.A.
Guzik, A.S.P. Conference Series, Vol. 135,
380.
Baade, D., 1998, Pulsations of OB-stars: new
observations, In IAU S185: New eyes to see
inside the Sun and stars, eds. F.L. Deubner,
J. Christensen-Dalsgaard, D. Kurtz, Kluwer
Academic Publishers, 347.
Dziembowski, W.A., Pamyatnykh, A.A., 1993,
The opacity mechanism in B-type stars. I –
Unstable modes in b Cephei star models,
MNRAS 262, 204.
Dziembowski, W.A., Jerzykiewicz, M., 1996,
Asteroseismology of the b Cephei stars. I.
16 (EN) Lacertae, A&A 306, 436.
Dziembowski, W.A., Jerzykiewicz, M., 1999,
Asteroseismology of the b Cephei stars. II.
12 (DD) Lacertae, A&A 341, 480.
Lomb, N.R., Shobbrook, R.R., 1975, New radial
velocities and further photometric observations
of l Sco and k Sco, MNRAS 173,
709.
Mathias, P., Aerts, C., 1996, A spectroscopic
analysis of the d Scuti star 20 CVn, A&A 312,
905.
Waelkens, C., 1987, Rotation and pulsationmode-
selection in B-type stars, In Stellar
Pulsation, eds. A.N. Cox, W.M. Sparks, S.G.
Starrfield, Springer-Verlag, 75.
Waelkens, C., Aerts, C., Kestens, E., et al.,
1998, A&A 330, 215.
Winget, D.E., Nather, R.E., Clemens, J.C., et
al. ,1991, Asteroseismology of the DOV star
PG1159–035 with the Whole Earth
Telescope, ApJ 378, 326.
25-27 (PDF)
H. Lamy, D. Hutsemékers
A procedure for deriving accurate linear polarimetric measurements.

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96...25L
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Lamy, H.; Hutsemékers, D.
AA(Institut d’Astrophysique, Université de Liège, Belgium; e-mail: lamy@astro.ulg.ac.be, hutsemek@astro.ulg.ac.be) AB(Institut d’Astrophysique, Université de Liège, Belgium; e-mail: lamy@astro.ulg.ac.be, hutsemek@astro.ulg.ac.be)
Abstract:
The authors present here a procedure written within the ESO MIDAS reduction package with the aim of deriving semi-automatically linear polarisation data from CCD images obtained with beam-splitters such as those available at the ESO 3.6-m telescope equipped with EFOSC2 or at the VLT equipped with FORS1. The method is adequate for point-like objects and was used for measuring quasar polarisation.
References:
di Serego Alighieri S. 1989, In:Grosbøl P.J. et
al (eds.) 1st ESO/ST-ECF, Data Analysis
Workshop, 157.
di Serego Alighieri S. 1998, in Instrumentation
for Large Telescopes, Ed. J.M. Rodriguez
Espinosa, Cambridge University Press,
287.
Hutsemékers D., Lamy H. & Remy M. 1998,
A&A 340, 371.
Schwarz H., Guisard D. 1995, The Messenger
81, 9.
Serkowski K., 1974, in Methods of Experimental
Physics, vol. 12, part A, eds. M.L. Meeks
& N.P. Carleton (New York: Academic
Press), 361

Other Astronomical News

28-29 (PDF)
J. Bergeron, U. Grothkopf
Publications in Refereed Journals Based on Telescope Observations

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96...28B
Section:
Other Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Bergeron, J.; Grothkopf, U.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO)
Abstract:
ESO’s broad objective is to provide the astronomical communities in the member states with first-class optical infrared facilities. During the past few years, major efforts were dedicated to the refurbishment and upgrading of all the telescopes at the La Silla Observatory as well as the restructuring of the Observatory in telescope and service teams.
28-28 (PDF)
ESO
Translation of the Speech by H.E. the President of the Republic of Chile, Don Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, at the Inauguration of the Paranal Observatory, 5th March 1999

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96...28.
Section:
Other Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
29-30 (PDF)
C. Madsen
ESO at the Hannover Fair

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96...29M
Section:
Other Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Madsen, C.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
The Hannover Fair is the world’s largest industrial fair. Each year more than 300,000 visitors from all over the world attend this major event which occupies 30 large exhibition halls. This year, about 7300 enterprises from 63 countries demonstrated their latest products and services, either at individual stands or within ‘national’ information stands.

Announcements

30-30 (PDF)
ESO
Personnel Movements

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96...30.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
31-31 (PDF)
ESO
List of Scientific Preprints (April–June 1999)

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96Q..31.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
31-31 (PDF)
ESO
Contributed Software by Observers in the ESO Community

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96R..31.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
31-31 (PDF)
ESO
ESO Fellowship Programme 2000

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96S..31.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
ESO Fellowship Programme 2000

32-32 (PDF)
ESO
Contents

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96Q..32.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
32-32 (PDF)
ESO
New ESO Proceedings Available

ADS BibCode:
1999Msngr..96R..32.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)