Announcement

Visiting astronomer missing at ESO’s La Silla Observatory

22 September 2022

Thomas Richard (Tom) Marsh, an astronomer from Warwick University in the UK who was on an observing trip at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile, was reported missing on Friday 16 September. Despite extensive and thorough search by the national police, supported by ESO staff and British police, Marsh has unfortunately not yet been found. ESO’s La Silla Observatory is located in a mountainous area in the northern part of the Coquimbo region. 

Tom Marsh

Marsh is described as white, about 192 cm in height, with balding grey hair and a beard. He is likely to be wearing a blue rain jacket, walking boots and a grey woollen hat. If you have any information that could help the police find him, please call the Carabineros or the PDI in Chile. In the UK, you can contact the Warwickshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 153 of 18 September 2022. Warwickshire Police can also be contacted internationally by calling +44 1926 415000 and information can be reported online

We would ask you to please respect the privacy of Marsh’s family. ESO staff are in regular contact with them and have offered their full support.

Contacts

Juan Carlos Muñoz Mateos
ESO Media Officer
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49 89 3200 6176
Email: press@eso.org

Laura Ventura
ESO Head of Communication Chile
Vitacura, Chile
Cell: +56 9 9883 1124
E-mail: lventura@eso.org 

About the Announcement

Id:annlang22004-es-cl

Images

Many white domes are scattered across the road that follows the mountain ridge that makes up La Silla observatory. The mountainous desert that stretches in all directions have yellow-brown sand that contrasts to the blue sky.
A village in the desert?