Highlights

ALMA image of HOPS-315, a still-forming planetary system

For the first time, astronomers witness the dawn of a new solar system

International researchers have, for the first time, pinpointed the moment when planets began to form around a star beyond the Sun. Using the ALMA telescope, in which the European Southern Observatory (ESO) is a partner, and the James Webb Space Telescope, they have observed the creation of the first specks of planet-forming material — hot minerals just beginning to solidify. This finding marks the first time a planetary system has been identified at such an early stage in its formation and opens a window to the past of our own Solar System.

VLT image of a double-detonation supernova

eso2511 — Press Release

Double detonation: new image shows remains of star destroyed by pair of explosions

For the first time, astronomers have obtained visual evidence that a star met its end by detonating twice. By studying the centuries-old remains of supernova SNR 0509-67.5 with the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), they have found patterns that confirm its star suffered a pair of explosive blasts. Published today, this discovery shows some of the most important explosions in the Universe in a new light.

eso2510 — Press Release

Astronomers capture most detailed thousand-colour image of a galaxy

Astronomers have created a galactic masterpiece: an ultra-detailed image that reveals previously unseen features in the Sculptor Galaxy. Using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), they observed this nearby galaxy in thousands of colours simultaneously. By capturing vast amounts of data at every single location, they created a galaxy-wide snapshot of the lives of stars within Sculptor.

eso2509 — Press Release

'Cosmic joust': astronomers observe pair of galaxies in deep-space battle

Astronomers have witnessed for the first time a violent cosmic collision in which one galaxy pierces another with intense radiation. Their results, published today in Nature, show that this radiation dampens the wounded galaxy’s ability to form new stars. This new study combined observations from both the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), revealing all the gory details of this galactic battle.

2M1510 (AB) b, a planet in a perpendicular orbit around two brown dwarfs

eso2508 — Press Release

"Big surprise": astronomers find planet in perpendicular orbit around pair of stars

Astronomers have found a planet that orbits at an angle of 90 degrees around a rare pair of peculiar stars. This is the first time we have strong evidence for one of these ‘polar planets’ orbiting a stellar pair. The surprise discovery was made using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT).

ann25002

Celebrations held as dome of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope reaches its peak

Furthest detection of oxygen in the early Universe

eso2507 — Press Release

Oxygen discovered in most distant known galaxy

Two different teams of astronomers have detected oxygen in the most distant known galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-0. The discovery, reported in two separate studies, was made possible thanks to the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), in which the European Southern Observatory (ESO) is a partner. This record-breaking detection is making astronomers rethink how quickly galaxies formed in the early Universe.

eso2506 — Press Release

New ESO analysis confirms severe damage from industrial complex planned near Paranal

An in-depth technical analysis by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has evaluated the impact of the INNA megaproject on the facilities at the Paranal Observatory, Chile — and the results are alarming. The analysis reveals that INNA would increase light pollution above the Very Large Telescope (VLT) by at least 35% and by more than 50% above the south site of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO-South). INNA would also increase air turbulence in the area, further degrading conditions for astronomical observations, while vibrations from the project could seriously impair the functioning of some of the astronomical facilities, like the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), at the Paranal Observatory.

ann25001

Telescope first light for ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope now planned for March 2029

Asteroid 2024 YR4 observed with ESO’s Very Large Telescope

eso2505 — Press Release

ESO observations help almost fully rule out 2024 YR4 asteroid impact

New observations of 2024 YR4 conducted with the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT) and facilities around the world have all but ruled out an impact of the asteroid with our planet. The asteroid has been closely monitored in the past couple of months as its odds of impacting Earth in 2032 rose to around 3%, the highest impact probability ever reached for a sizable asteroid. After the latest observations, the odds of impact dropped to nearly zero.

The 3D structure of the atmosphere of the exoplanet Tylos

eso2504 — Press Release

“Out of science fiction”: First 3D observations of an exoplanet’s atmosphere reveal a unique climate

Astronomers have peered through the atmosphere of a planet beyond the Solar System, mapping its 3D structure for the first time. By combining all four telescope units of the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), they found powerful winds carrying chemical elements like iron and titanium, creating intricate weather patterns across the planet’s atmosphere. The discovery opens the door for detailed studies of the chemical makeup and weather of other alien worlds.

eso2503 — Press Release

Star cluster reveals its colours in stunning 80-million-pixel ESO image

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has released a stunning 80 million-pixel image of the star cluster RCW 38, as captured by ESO’s Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA), operating in Chile’s Atacama Desert.

Artist’s impression of supersonic winds on WASP-127b

eso2502 — Press Release

Extreme supersonic winds measured on planet outside our Solar System

Astronomers have discovered extremely powerful winds pummeling the equator of WASP-127b, a giant exoplanet. Reaching speeds up to 33 000 km/h, the winds make up the fastest jetstream of its kind ever measured on a planet. The discovery was made using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT) in Chile and provides unique insights into the weather patterns of a distant world.

eso2501 — Press Release

World's darkest and clearest skies at risk from industrial megaproject

On December 24th, AES Andes, a subsidiary of the US power company AES Corporation, submitted a project for a massive industrial complex for environmental impact assessment. This complex threatens the pristine skies above ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert, the darkest and clearest of any astronomical observatory in the world [1]. The industrial megaproject is planned to be located just 5 to 11 kilometres from telescopes at Paranal, which would cause irreparable damage to astronomical observations, in particular due to light pollution emitted throughout the project’s operational life. Relocating the complex would save one of Earth's last truly pristine dark skies.

Location of binary star D9 in the Milky Way

eso2418 — Press Release

First ever binary star found near our galaxy’s supermassive black hole

An international team of researchers has detected a binary star orbiting close to Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy. It is the first time a stellar pair has been found in the vicinity of a supermassive black hole. The discovery, based on data collected by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), helps us understand how stars survive in environments with extreme gravity, and could pave the way for the detection of planets close to Sagittarius A*.

Image of the star WOH G64 taken by the VLTI

eso2417 — Press Release

Astronomers take the first close-up picture of a star outside our galaxy

“For the first time, we have succeeded in taking a zoomed-in image of a dying star in a galaxy outside our own Milky Way,” says Keiichi Ohnaka, an astrophysicist from Universidad Andrés Bello in Chile. Located a staggering 160 000 light-years from us, the star WOH G64 was imaged thanks to the impressive sharpness offered by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer (ESO’s VLTI). The new observations reveal a star puffing out gas and dust, in the last stages before it becomes a supernova.

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All Press Releases Announcements Pictures of the Week Blog Posts Videos

Press Release

17 Mar 2025 — eso2506

New ESO analysis confirms severe damage from industrial complex planned near Paranal

Press Release

16 Jul 2025 — eso2512

For the first time, astronomers witness the dawn of a new solar system

Witnessing the dawn of a new solar system | Chasing Starlight

Video

16 Jul 2025 — eso2512a

Witnessing the dawn of a new solar system | Chasing Starlight

You can’t judge a star by its protoplanetary disc

Picture of the Week

14 Jul 2025 — potw2528

You can’t judge a star by its protoplanetary disc

VLT timelapse of 3I/ATLAS, a new interstellar object

Picture of the Week

8 Jul 2025 — potw2527

VLT timelapse of 3I/ATLAS, a new interstellar object

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