Annonces

6 juin 2018: ESO astronomer Claudio Melo has become ESO’s new Representative in Chile. He replaces Fernando Comerón, who has been ESO Representative since 2013. Claudio explains how he views his new role: “I am thrilled to use the wonders of the Universe and the educational potential of astronomy to inspire young people across the world and especially in Chile. Along with the ESO staff, I aim to continue Fernando’s successful work and nurture the already very good relations with government officials as well as the vibrant scientific community in Chile and beyond.” Melo originally comes from Natal, Brazil where he obtained his BSc and MSc in physics and astrophysics respectively at the UFRN (Natal) working with Jose De Medeiros. He then went on to complete a PhD from 1996-2001 at Geneva Observatory (Geneva University), Switzerland where he studied young stars under the supervision of Michel Mayor. Melo joined ESO in 2002 as ...

4 juin 2018: Prizes have been presented to the winners of the 2018 Photo NightScape Awards at a ceremony at the NightScapades festival, the first international festival of astrophotography to be held in France. ESO is a partner in the Photo NightScape competition, which is organised by the non-profit organisation Chasseurs de Nuits. The winning entries, which were announced on 2 May, were chosen from almost 400 captivating astronomical timelapses and photographs. Entries were submitted to the jury across four categories — Nightscape, In Town, Timelapse and Junior, with first and second place prizes awarded in each category. The first prize in the Nightscape category, which was open to all images captured between sunset and sunrise, went to Stefan Liebermann from Germany. He submitted a beautiful image of the Milky Way arching over the dead trees and desert landscape of the Namibian Deadvlei clay pan. His prize is a Nikon D7500 camera, a ...

25 mai 2018: ESO’s Very Large Telescope, the flagship facility for European ground-based astronomy, celebrates its 20th anniversary today. The first of the VLT’s Unit Telescopes saw first light on 25 May 1998, ushering in a new era of astronomy. Over the following years three more 8.2-metre Unit Telescopes were completed and these giants were joined by the four smaller Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) that form part of the VLT Interferometer. The interferometer first combined the light from two ATs in 2005, creating a virtual telescope up to 200 metres in diameter that now regularly observes the surfaces of stars. The VLT could not function without its world-class suite of instruments, which have been developed in collaboration with astronomers and engineers in the ESO community. A spectacular recent addition to the VLT is the 4 Laser Guide Star Facility, which projects four 22-watt laser beams into the upper atmosphere to create artificial stars that ...

17 mai 2018: From 17 May to 2 September 2018, the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre will display it’s first temporary exhibition — Our Place in Space. This small free-of-charge showcase of art and science is inspired by the spectacular images of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and encourages visitors to consider where humanity fits into the grand scheme of the Universe. Works from eleven Italian artists are presented to provide a unique view of the Universe and our place within it. For more than 28 years, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has been expanding our cosmic horizons. It is one of the most ambitious and successful astronomy missions ever flown in space and is a great example of a successful international partnership. Not only has this magnificent telescope revealed and shared the beauty, wonder, and complexity of the Universe, but it has also brought astronomy to the public eye, greatly impacting ...

17 mai 2018: In April 2018, a team composed of scientists and engineers from the Geneva Observatory and ESO were at the La Silla Observatory to commission HELIOS (HARPS Experiment for Light Integrated Over the Sun) [1]. This novel device was built under an agreement between ESO, the University of Geneva and the Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto [2]. HELIOS is a solar telescope feeding the HARPS (High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher) instrument, which is attached to the ESO 3.6-metre telescope. HARPS is one of the most powerful planet hunters in existence and spends most nights monitoring stars for minute signals that indicate the presence of an exoplanet. HARPS has unparalleled accuracy and is regularly generating results that will present fresh challenges for future telescopes such as ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope. HELIOS will be able to feed sunlight into HARPS to achieve very high precision spectroscopy of the Sun for ...

11 mai 2018: The cutting-edge ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre provides unforgettable learning experiences for students of all ages. Engaging workshops, tours and two new educational planetarium shows all capture the night sky’s incredible ability to inspire a love for science in young people. All educational activities are available free of charge. Open to the public since 28 April 2018, the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre offers a wide range of captivating shows, workshops and events. The ESO Supernova educational programme has been designed to be adaptable to students aged 4–18, and includes a range of interactive workshops and tours, as well as access to our cutting-edge astronomy exhibition. Furthermore, two presenter-led planetarium shows — The Skies Above Us and A Tour of the Solar System — have recently joined the exciting educational program on offer at the ESO Supernova. The Skies Above Us is an interactive planetarium show that has ...

7 mai 2018: The digging of the foundations for the dome and telescope structure of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) has begun on Cerro Armazones — at an altitude of over 3000 metres in Chile's Atacama Desert. The work is being carried out by the ACe Consortium, consisting of Astaldi and Cimolai. These dramatic pictures were taken to mark this event by ESO photo ambassador Gerhard Hüdepohl, who used a drone to gaze down on Cerro Armazones. Dubbed ELT, this revolutionary new ground-based telescope concept will have a 39-metre main mirror and will be the largest optical/near-infrared telescope in the world: “the world’s biggest eye on the sky”. Construction is targeted for completion in time for first light in 2024. Working at such a high altitude is not easy, but the rewards will be great; this site is high, dry, and removed from light pollution. It will provide truly excellent seeing conditions, allowing ...

7 mai 2018: Most supernovae occur at the end of a massive star’s life, when their dramatic destruction is marked by a catastrophic final explosion. However, to celebrate the start of the life of the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre, ESO Music Ambassador Stan Dart has created a soundtrack for one of the ESO Supernova’s planetarium shows.Stan Dart’s chilled ambient composition also features as the soundtrack to ESOcast light 159, which explores the fascinating subject of supernovae, and their role in creating new star systems, planets, and even life. You can subscribe to the ESOcasts on iTunes, receive future episodes on YouTube or follow us on Vimeo, and many other ESOcast episodes are also available online. Find out how to view and contribute subtitles to the ESOcast in multiple languages, or translate this video on YouTube.

3 mai 2018: ALMA, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, has reached an important milestone with the publication of the 1000th peer-reviewed paper using ALMA data. The paper was Spatial variations in Titan's atmospheric temperature: ALMA and Cassini comparisons from 2012 to 2015 by Alexander E. Thelen et al. — which presents a detailed investigation of the atmospheric temperature of Saturn's largest moon, Titan. The data behind the work of Thelen et al. was originally taken to help calibrate the telescope and have been available since 2013. ALMA data is archived online, meaning many discoveries by different researchers can be made from a single observational programme, or from data taken for an entirely different purpose, as is the case here. The full range of papers presenting observations and discoveries using ALMA data is also available online from the ESO telbib database [1]. The ALMA bibliography is jointly maintained by the librarians at ESO and ...

19 avril 2018: ESO has signed a contract with VDL ETG Projects B.V. (the Netherlands) for the manufacture, assembly, testing and delivery of the Segment Support Mechanics for the primary mirror of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). The segment supports together act as the backbone of the primary mirror, holding each of the 798 mirror segments in place. Sensors and actuators monitor and control each segment’s shape and position to very high accuracy. The contract was signed by Harrie Schonewille, Managing Director of VDL ETG Projects, Willem van der Leegte, President VDL and Xavier Barcons, Director General of ESO, at a ceremony at ESO Headquarters in Garching, Germany on 19 April 2018. When completed, the ELT’s primary mirror (M1) will be 39 metres in diameter and will consist of 798 hexagonal mirror segments. The hexagonal shape means that a common support structure can be used for all segments. Each segment will be connected ...

18 avril 2018: On 28 April 2018, the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre will open its doors to the public. The inauguration of the centre will be celebrated with a series of events dedicated to its community of partners, supporters, neighbours and friends. In its first quarter, the centre has prepared a starry line-up of activities for its visitors. On 26 April we will host a press conference at the ESO Supernova, where media representatives will have the opportunity to learn more about the new planetarium and visitor centre, interview representatives from the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the Klaus Tschira Stiftung (KTS) and the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS) and participate in an exhibition tour and planetarium show. On the evening of the same day, an event will bring together the founders of the ESO Supernova, the extended team of architects, exhibition designers and project managers, as well as representatives from ...

10 avril 2018: On 27 April 2018, ESO is inviting all digital enthusiasts to meet the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre, a new cutting-edge astronomy centre for the public that will open its doors the next day. The Meet #ESOSupernova event is aimed at keen social media users, passionate bloggers and other digital content creators from both the local community (Munich, Bavaria and Germany) and the European and international community. The event is organised in Garching, near Munich in Germany, at the Headquarters of the European Southern Observatory, where the ESO Supernova is also located. The planned language of the event is German, but depending on the participants attending, English may also be used. From 09:00 until 13:00, event participants will have the chance to enjoy an immersive experience at the ESO Supernova. A special exhibition tour will give participants the opportunity to test our exhibits. They will also become familiarised with ...

5 avril 2018: Over the past months, the ESO Supernova team has been preparing the programme for the new Planetarium & Visitor Centre, due to open to the public on 28 April 2018. We are delighted to announce that a printed version of the programme is now available, in addition to the online version which can be used to book activities directly. The programme contains information about the range of planetarium shows, guided tours and educational workshops offered by the ESO Supernova. It also features special public events such as science talks, concerts and much more. For more information, see the press release about the online version of the programme. The printed programme will be distributed to various tourism outlets, hotels and other partners, to ensure that our incredible Planetarium & Visitor Centre reaches as broad an audience as possible. It will also be available in the ESO Supernova itself and can be ...

3 avril 2018: The latest issue of the free magazine Science in School is now available online and in print. This European journal for science teachers offers up-to-date information on cutting-edge science, teaching materials and projects in science education, interviews with inspiring scientists and teachers, reviews of books and other resources, and many other useful resources for science teachers. It aims to promote science teaching by encouraging communication between teachers, scientists and everyone else involved in European science education. Some of the highlights of this issue include: an interview with ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer; an article about the iron-eating bacteria on the wreck of the Titanic; and 10 things you might not know about fracking. Teaching activities include: colourful redox reactions using lollipops; and a set of challenges involving bouncing and falling objects to investigate simple physics principles. Science in School is published by EIROforum, a collaboration between eight European intergovernmental scientific research ...

29 mars 2018: The latest edition of ESO's quarterly journal, The Messenger, is now available online. Find out the latest news from ESO on topics ranging from new instruments to the latest science discoveries. Highlights of this edition include: 40+ Years of Instrumentation for ESO End-to-End Operations in the ELT Era The VLTI Roadmap The ELT in 2017: The Year of the Primary Mirror Exploring the Sun with ALMA The ESO Diffuse Interstellar Band Large Exploration Survey (EDIBLES) Download The Messenger in PDF format or visit The Messenger website to subscribe and receive a free printed copy. This product is also available in the ESOshop.

29 mars 2018: ESO will host a press conference on 26 April 2018 at 13:00 CEST, at its Headquarters in Garching, Germany, to present the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre on the occasion of its inauguration. The media will be introduced to the facility and there will be opportunities for interviews. There will also be a tour of the exhibition as well as a planetarium show. The press conference will be in German, but there will be opportunities for interviews in English and material will be provided in both languages where possible. This invitation is addressed exclusively to media representatives. To participate in the conference, bona fide members of the media must register by completing an online form. Space is limited so we recommend early registration. The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre is a cutting-edge astronomy centre for the public and an educational facility. The centre hosts the largest tilted planetarium ...

26 mars 2018: Applications for the ESO-supported Summer AstroCamp 2018 will open on 1 April. AstroCamp is an academic programme in the field of astronomy and physics that aims to stimulate curiosity and critical thinking, organised by the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto (CAUP). The camp takes place from 5–19 August 2018 in a secluded and tranquil setting, away from the stresses of urban centres. The programme is intended for secondary school students from European Union countries, in one of their final three years of education before university. Students of all backgrounds will come together and take two courses consisting of daily lessons, assignments, and a final exam. Some further highlights include: Observing the dark night skies with the naked eye and telescopes (including the Perseid meteor shower); Skyping with astronomers and physicists from different countries; A computational project, working with data from the world’s best telescopes; Social activities such ...

23 mars 2018: The French optics company Safran Reosc has completed the first of six shells that will comprise the M4 deformable mirror system, which forms a fundamental part of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). When complete, the adaptive M4 mirror will be 2.4 metres in diameter but only 1.95 millimetres thick. This very thin mirror is one of the five main mirrors of the ELT’s optical system, with the main segmented mirror being 39 metres in diameter. Safran Reosc are manufacturing all six of the deformable shell mirrors that comprise the M4 mirror. Together, these 60-degree petal sections form the circular segmented M4 mirror. They will be mounted and supported in the adaptive mirror unit. Meanwhile, the Italian consortium AdOptica is manufacturing the complex adaptive support system needed for the M4. Deformable mirrors, such as the M4 mirror of the ELT, are key components of adaptive optics systems, which help reduce the ...

23 mars 2018: The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre offers unique venue alternatives for event organisers in Munich. Our events brochure provides information about the spaces for hire and the available services. The centre can cater for events ranging from conferences, meetings, and workshops to cocktail parties and other evening events. The centre has two highlights in terms of venue alternatives. The 360-degree planetarium offers an immersive and spectacular environment. The Void is a spherical room displaying the Milky Way Galaxy on its walls, and its star roof can light up with the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere. Other spaces include the 2200 m2 exhibition area, two seminar rooms and the open-air rooftop terrace from which the Alps are visible on a clear day. Any event for which the ESO Supernova is chosen as the host venue will benefit from parking, cloakroom access, and wifi throughout the building. We can also recommend ...

21 mars 2018: Over the past months, the ESO Supernova team has been keenly working on the preparation of the programme for the exciting new planetarium and visitor centre, due to open to the public on 28 April 2018. We are delighted to announce that the programme is now available online. The programme contains lots of information about the range of planetarium shows, guided tours and educational workshops offered by the ESO Supernova. It also features special public events such as science talks, concerts and much more. The programme allows you to click on each show, tour or event to find out more information and to book your place. In 2018 all activities are free, but bookings are necessary. After booking, tickets can be printed using the ESO Supernova on-site ticket kiosks. The planetarium shows on offer — which are all free of charge — can guide you through the highlights of the ...