Phase 2 is the step when users of ESO's telescope facilities prepare for their observations. The observation preparation differs slightly for users who have been granted Service Mode observations versus observers who will travel to the telescope for their Visitor Mode observations or who have time allocated in designated Visitor Mode.  The backbone of all observations (with the exception of APEX, see APEX Service Mode Preparation) are the Observation Blocks (OBs) which one prepares with the Phase 2 web-based application p2.

Starting in October 2019 the web-based replacement for the ESO Phase 2 observing preparation tool P2PP named p2ls, has been released for operations at La Silla.  p2ls fully replaces P2PP for (designated) Visitor Mode observations of all instruments available at La Silla.  Note that p2ls is the La Silla “cousin” of the Paranal tool p2. With the introduction of p2ls also the Phase 2 delegation becomes available for La Silla.  

Help and instructions for Phase 2 preparations is offered by different teams, depending on the nature of the observations, via web pages and email contact. Please choose one of the following links:

• Service Mode observation guidelines (VLT, VLTI, VISTA and VST), contact: email the User Support Department
  
• Paranal (designated) Visitor Mode guidelines (VLT and VLTI), on-site info for visiting astronomers. Email contact: Paranal Science Operations
• La Silla Visitor Mode guidelines (NTT, 3.6m and 2.2m), on-site info for visiting astronomers. Email contact: La Silla Science Operations
  
• APEX Service Mode observations: APEX web site