ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128....2C
Section:
The Organisation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Cesarsky, C.
AA(ESO Director General)
Abstract:
I am delighted to welcome the Czech Republic as our 13th member state. From its size, the Czech Republic may not belong to the ‘big’ member states, but the accession nonetheless marks an important point in ESO’s history and, I believe, in the history of Czech astronomy as well. The Czech Republic is the frst of the Central and East European countries to join ESO. The membership underlines ESO’s continuing evolution as the prime European organisation for astronomy, whilst at the same time it enables Czech astronomers to become fully integrated in the European astronomical community.

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128....3P
Section:
The Organisation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Palouš, J.; Hadrava, P.
AA(Astronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic) AB(Astronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic)
Abstract:
A brief historical outline of the development of astronomy in the Czech lands is presented, followed by an overview of the current observational, research and educational facilities.
References:
Eckart A. et al. 2006, The Messenger 125, 2
Hadrava P. 2006, “The European Southern
Observatory and Czech Astronomy”, Academia,
Praha
Palouš J., Vondrák J. and Šolc M. 2002, “Astronomy
and Astrophysics in the Czech Republic”, in
“Organizations and Strategies in Astronomy III”,
ed. A. Heck, Kluwer, 163

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128....9S
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Szeifert, T.; Reiss, R.; Baksai, P.; Deiries, S.; Izzo, C.; Jehin, E.; Kiekebusch, M.; Moehler, S.; O'Brien, K.; Pompei, E.; Riquelme, M.; Rupprecht, G.; Shen, T.-C.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO) AE(ESO) AF(ESO) AG(ESO) AH(ESO) AI(ESO) AJ(ESO) AK(ESO) AL(ESO) AM(ESO)
Abstract:
Ground-based observations in the ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum are notoriously difficult owing to absorption of the atmosphere, of optical elements and the poorer efficiency of detectors. Now that CCD detectors with excellent UV response and cosmetic quality have become available, it was time to optimise FORS1 for imaging, low-resolution spectroscopic and polarimetric observations in the blue-UV. As a bonus, a new set of broadband filters with very high trans-mission and carefully defined filter bands were installed.
References:
Appenzeller I. et al. 1998, The Messenger 94, 1
Baade D. and the Optical Detector Team 2005, in
“Scientifc Detectors for Astronomy”, eds. J. E.
Beletic, J. W. Beletic and P. Amico, Astrophysics
and Space Science Library, Springer, 73
Bessel M. S. 1990, PASP 102, 1181
Fukugita M. et al. 1996, AJ 111, 1748
Landolt A. U. 1992, AJ 104, 372

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...13F
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Freudling, W.; Møller, P.; Patat, F.; Moehler, S.; Romaniello, M.; Jehin, E.; O'Brien, K.; Izzo, C.; Depagne, E.; Pompei, E.; Naef, D.; Rupprecht, G.; Järvinen, A.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO) AE(ESO) AF(ESO) AG(ESO) AH(ESO) AI(ESO) AJ(ESO) AK(ESO) AL(ESO) AM(ESO)
Abstract:
The two FOcal Reducer and low-dis-persion Spectrographs (FORS) are the primary imaging instruments for the VLT. Because they are not direct imaging instruments, the accuracy of photometry which can routinely be obtained is limited by significant sky concentration and other effects. This article reports on the progress of a long-term project to improve the photometric calibration of the FORS instruments.
References:
Freudling W. et al. 2006, “The FORS Absolute
Photometry Project”, VLT-TRE-ESO-13100-4006
Freudling W. et al. 2007, in “The Future of Photometric,
Spectrophotometric, and Polarimetric
Standardization”, ed. C. Sterken, ASP Conference
Series 364, 113
Møller P. et al. 2005, “FORS: An assessment of obtainable
photometric accuracy and outline of
strategy for improvement (FORS IOT Secondary
Standards Working Group)”, VLT-TRE-ESO-13100-
3808
Stetson P. B. 2000, PASP 112, 925
Stetson P. B. 2006, felds listed at http://cadcwww.
dao.nrc.ca/cadcbin/wdbi.cgi/astrocat/stetson/
query

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...17S
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Siebenmorgen, R.; Smette, A.; Käufl, H. U.; Seifahrt, A.; Uttenthaler, S.; Bik, A.; Casali, M.; Hubrig, S.; Jung, Y.; Kerber, F.; Melnick, J.; Moorwood, A.; Pirard, J.-F.; Sana, H.; Valenti, E.; Tacconi-Garman, L.; Hilker, M.; Primas, F.; Amado, P. J.; Carmona, A.; van Dishoeck, E. F.; Foellmi, C.; Goto, M.; Gredel, R.; Günther, E.; Gustaffson, B.; Kurtz, D.; Lidman, C.; Linz, H.; Martins, F.; Menten, K.; Moutou, C.; Nissen, P. E.; Nürnberger, D.; Reiners, A.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO) AE(Institut für Astronomie, University Vienna, Austria) AF(ESO) AG(ESO) AH(ESO) AI(ESO) AJ(ESO) AK(ESO) AL(ESO) AM(ESO) AN(ESO) AO(ESO) AP(ESO) AQ(ESO) AR(ESO) AS(Gr-IAA, Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Granada, Spain) AT(ESO) AU(Universiteit Leiden, the Netherlands) AV(ESO) AW(Max-Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg, Germany) AX(Max-Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg, Germany) AY(Thüringer Landessternwarte (TLS), Tautenburg, Germany) AZ(Uppsala University, Sweden) BA(University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom) BB(ESO) BC(Max-Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg, Germany) BD(Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, Germany) BE(Max-Planck Institute for Astronomy, Bonn, Germany) BF(Laboratoire d’Astrophysique Marseille (LAM), France) BG(University of Aarhus, Denmark) BH(ESO) BI(ESO)
Abstract:
The VLT cryogenic high-resolution infrared echelle spectrograph CRIRES offers high spatial, spectral and temporal resolution spectroscopy from 1 to 5 μm. Highlights from among the 29 pilot studies of the CRIRES science verification (SV) runs are summarised.
References:
Carmona A. 2007, Ph.D. Thesis, University of
Heidelberg
Käuf H. U. et al. 2004, SPIE 5492, 1218
Käuf H. U. et al. 2007, The Messenger 126, 32
Kerber F. et al. 2007, ASP Conference Series 364,
ed. C. Sterken, 461
Martins F. et al. 2006, ApJ 644, L75
Nissen et al. 2007, A&A, accepted,
astro-ph/0702689
Oka et al. 2005, ApJ 632, 882
Roueff et al. 2006, A&A 447, 963
Ryde N. et al. 2007, astro-ph/0701916
Ryde N. 2005, in: “High Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy
in Astronomy”, ESO Astrophysics
Symposia, (eds.) H. U. Käuf, R. Siebenmorgen
and A. F. M. Moorwood, Springer, 365
Siebenmorgen R. and Smette A. 2007, CRIRES
User’s Manual, http://www.eso.org/instruments/
crires/doc/
Smette A., Horst H. and Navarrete J. 2007,
Proceedings of the 2007 ESO Instrument Calibration
Workshop, Springer-Verlag, in press,
http://www.eso.org/gen-fac/meetings/cal07/
presentations/smetteCal07.pdf

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...23G
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Gonté, F.; Dupuy, C.; Frank, C.; Araujo, C.; Brast, R.; Frahm, R.; Karban, R.; Andolfato, L.; Esteves, R.; Nylund, M.; Sedghi, B.; Fischer, G.; Noethe, L.; Derie, F.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO) AE(ESO) AF(ESO) AG(ESO) AH(ESO) AI(ESO) AJ(ESO) AK(ESO) AL(ESO) AM(ESO) AN(ESO)
Abstract:
The Active Phasing Experiment (APE) is part of the Extremely Large Telescope Design Study which is supported by the European Framework Programme 6. This experiment, which is conducted in collaboration with several partners is a demonstrator to test and qualify newly-developed phasing sensors for the alignment of segmented mirrors and test the phasing software within a telescope control system to be developed for a future European Extremely Large Telescope. The segmentation of a primary mirror is simulated by a scaled-down Active Segmented Mirror of 61 segments which has been developed in-house.
References:
Gilmozzi R. and Spyromilio J. 2007, The Messenger 127, 11

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...25H
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Haupt, C.; Rykaczewski, H.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO)
Abstract:
An overview of the current status of the ALMA project and the progress over the last two years is presented. The main focus is on the European deliverables, but the contributions of North America and Japan are also mentioned.
References:
Baudry A. et al. 2006, The Messenger 125, 37
Wilson T. 2006, The Messenger 123, 19
Haupt C. et al. 2006, Proc. SPIE 6271, 14

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...31W
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Wilson, T.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
The new ALMA European Project Scientist is Dr. Leonardo Testi. He took up the appointment in May 2007. Leonardo Testi received his Ph.D. from the University of Florence in 1997. Subsequently he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory of Caltech. In 1998 he joined staff of the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory, and later on of INAF, for which he also served on the Science Council. Leonardo has been chair of the European ALMA Science Advisory committee and a member of the ALMA Science Advisory committee, so he well knows the details of the project as well as the science that can be carried out with ALMA.

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...33B
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Beaulieu, J.-P.; Albrow, M.; Bennett, D.; Brillang, S.; Caldwell, J. A. R.; Calitz, J. J.; Cassan, A.; Cook, K. H.; Coutures, C.; Dieters, S.; Dominik, M.; Dominis-Prester, D.; Donatowicz, J.; Fouqué, P.; Greenhill, J.; Hill, K.; Hoffman, M.; Jørgensen, U. G.; Kane, S.; Kubas, D.; Marquette, J.-B.; Martin, R.; Meintjes, P.; Menzies, J.; Pollard, K.; Sahu, K.; Vinter, C.; Wambsganss, J.; Williams, A.; Woller, K.; Zub, M.; Horne, K.; Allan, A.; Bode, M.; Bramich, D. M.; Burgdorf, M.; Fraser, S.; Mottram, C.; Rattenbury, N.; Snodgrass, C.; Steele, I.; Tsapras, Y.
AA(PLANET Collaboration & Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France) AB(PLANET Collaboration & University of Canterbury, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Christchurch, New Zealand) AC(PLANET Collaboration & University of Notre Dame, Department of Physics, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA) AD(PLANET Collaboration & ESO) AE(PLANET Collaboration & McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, Texas, USA) AF(PLANET Collaboration & Boyden Observatory, University of the Free State, Department of Physics, Bloemfontein, South Africa) AG(PLANET Collaboration & Astronomisches Rechen-Institut (ARI), Zentrum für Astronomie, Universität Heidelberg, Germany) AH(PLANET Collaboration & Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USA) AI(PLANET Collaboration & Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France) AJ(PLANET Collaboration & University of Tasmania, School of Mathematics and Physics, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia) AK(PLANET Collaboration & RoboNet Collaboration & Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, University of St Andrews, School of Physics and Astronomy, St Andrews, United Kingdom & Royal Society University Research Fellow) AL(PLANET Collaboration & University of Rijeka, Physics Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Rijeka, Croatia) AM(PLANET Collaboration & Technische Universität Wien, Austria) AN(PLANET Collaboration & Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire d’Astrophysique, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France) AO(PLANET Collaboration & University of Tasmania, School of Mathematics and Physics, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia) AP(PLANET Collaboration & University of Tasmania, School of Mathematics and Physics, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia) AQ(PLANET Collaboration & Boyden Observatory, University of the Free State, Department of Physics, Bloemfontein, South Africa) AR(PLANET Collaboration & Niels Bohr Institutet, Astronomisk Observatorium, København, Denmark) AS(PLANET Collaboration & Department of Astronomy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA) AT(PLANET Collaboration & ESO) AU(PLANET Collaboration & Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France) AV(PLANET Collaboration & Perth Observatory, Perth, Australia) AW(PLANET Collaboration & Boyden Observatory, University of the Free State, Department of Physics, Bloemfontein, South Africa) AX(PLANET Collaboration & South African Astronomical Observatory) AY(PLANET Collaboration & University of Canterbury, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Christchurch, New Zealand) AZ(PLANET Collaboration & Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA) BA(PLANET Collaboration & Niels Bohr Institutet, Astronomisk Observatorium, København, Denmark) BB(PLANET Collaboration & Astronomisches Rechen-Institut (ARI), Zentrum für Astronomie, Universität Heidelberg, Germany) BC(PLANET Collaboration & Perth Observatory, Perth, Australia) BD(PLANET Collaboration & Niels Bohr Institutet, Astronomisk Observatorium, København, Denmark) BE(PLANET Collaboration & Astronomisches Rechen-Institut (ARI), Zentrum für Astronomie, Universität Heidelberg, Germany) BF(PLANET Collaboration & RoboNet Collaboration & Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, University of St Andrews, School of Physics and Astronomy, St Andrews, United Kingdom) BG(RoboNet Collaboration & eSTAR Project, School of Physics, University of Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom) BH(RoboNet Collaboration & Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Birkenhead, United Kingdom) BI(PLANET Collaboration & RoboNet Collaboration & The Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes, Santa Cruz de La Palma, Canary Islands) BJ(RoboNet Collaboration & Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Birkenhead, United Kingdom) BK(RoboNet Collaboration & Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Birkenhead, United Kingdom) BL(RoboNet Collaboration & Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Birkenhead, United Kingdom) BM(RoboNet Collaboration & The University of Manchester, Jodrell Bank Observatory, Macclesfeld, Cheshire, United Kingdom) BN(RoboNet Collaboration & ESO) BO(RoboNet Collaboration & Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Birkenhead, United Kingdom) BP(RoboNet Collaboration & Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Birkenhead, United Kingdom)
Abstract:
In order to obtain a census of planets with masses in the range of Earth to Jupiter, eight telescopes are being used by the combined microlensing campaign of the PLANET and RoboNet collaborations for high-cadence photometric round-the-clock follow-up of ongoing events, alerted by the OGLE and MOA surveys. In 2005 we detected a planet of 5.5 Earth masses at 2.6 AU from its parent 0.22 MA M star. This object is the first member of a new class of cold telluric planets. Its detection confirms the power of this method and, given our detection efficiency, suggests that these recently-detected planets may be quite common around M stars, as confirmed by subsequent detection of a ~ 13 Earth-mass planet. Using a network of dedicated 1 2-m-class telescopes, we have entered a new phase of planet discovery, and will be able to provide constraints on the abundance of frozen Super-Earths in the near future.
References:
Alard C. 2000, A&AS 144, 363
Beaulieu J. P. et al. 2006, Nature 439, 437
Bennett D. P. et al. 2006, ApJ 647, 171
Bond I. A. et al. 2005, ApJ 606, 155
Dominik M. 2006, MNRAS 367, 669
Gaudi B. S. et al. 2002, ApJ 566, 463
Gould A. et al. 2006, ApJ 644, L 37
Griest K. and Safzadeh N. 1998, ApJ 500, 37
Ida S. and Lin D. N. C. 2005, ApJ 626, 1045
Udalski A. et al. 2005, ApJ 628, 109
Relevant websites:
PLANET: http://planet.iap.fr/
RoboNet: http://www.astro.livjm.ac.uk/RoboNet/
MicroFUN: http: //www.astronomy.ohio-state.
edu/~microfun/
MOA website: http://www.phys.canterbury.ac.nz/
moa/
OGLE website: http://www.astrouw.edu.pl/~ogle/

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...38N
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Nissen, P. E.; Asplund, M.; Fabbian, D.; Kerber, F.; Käufl, H. U.; Pettini, M.
AA(Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Denmark) AB(Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Australian National University) AC(Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Australian National University) AD(ESO) AE(ESO) AF(Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom)
Abstract:
Sulphur is the tenth most abundant element in the Universe and plays an im-portant role in studies of the chemical enrichment and star formation history of distant galaxies. Due to the lack of suitable sulphur lines in the visible part of stellar spectra there is, however, still no agreement on the abundance of sulphur in Galactic metal poor stars, and we are therefore uncertain about the nucleosynthetic origin of sulphur. New observations of infrared sulphur lines with the cryogenic high resolution infrared echelle spectrograph (CRIRES) at ESO’s VLT are helping to solve this problem.
References:
Asplund M. 2005, ARA&A 43, 481
Caffau E. et al. 2005, A&A 441, 533
Chen Y. Q. et al. 2002, A&A 390, 225
Israelian G. and Rebolo R. 2001, ApJ 557, L43
Käuf et al. 2006, The Messenger 126, 32
Nissen P. E. et al. 2004, A&A 415, 993
Nissen P. E. et al. 2007, A&A 469, 319
Takada-Hidai M. et al. 2002, ApJ 573, 614
Takeda Y. et al. 2005, PASJ 57, 751

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...41S
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Scarpa, R.; Marconi, G.; Gilmozzi, R.; Carraro, G.
AA(Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(Università di Padova, Italy)
Abstract:
We report on the results from an ongoing programme aimed at testing Newton’s law of gravity in the low acceleration regime using globular clusters. We find that all clusters studied so far behave like galaxies, that is, their velocity dispersion profiles flatten out at large radii where the acceleration of gravity goes below 10 8 cm s 2, instead of following the expected Keplerian fall-off. In galaxies this behaviour is ascribed to the existence of a dark matter halo. Globular clusters, however, are not supposed to contain dark matter, hence this result might indicate that our present understanding of gravity in the weak regime of accelerations is incomplete and possibly incorrect.
References:
Binney J. 2004, in “Dark Matter in Galaxies”,
ed. S. D. Ryder et al., IAUS 220, 3
Drukier G. A. et al. 2007, AJ 133, 1041
Mateo M. 1997, in “The nature of Elliptical Galaxies”,
ed. M. Arnaboldi, ASPC 116, 259
Milgrom M. 1983, ApJ 270, 365
Pryor C. et al. 1991, AJ 102, 1026
Scarpa R., Marconi G. and Gilmozzi R. 2003,
A&AL 405, 15
Scarpa R., Marconi G. and Gilmozzi R. 2004a,
IAUS 220E, 215
Scarpa R., Marconi G. and Gilmozzi R. 2004b, in
“Baryons in Dark Matter Halos”, eds. R. Dettmar
et al., SISSA, Proceedings of Science, 55.1,
http://pos.sissa.it
Scarpa R. et al. 2007, A&AL 462, 9
Wilkinson M. I. et al. 2006, The Messenger 124, 25

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...44Z
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Zuther, J.; Fischer, S.; Pott, J.-U.; Bertram, T.; Eckart, A.; Straubmeier, C.; Iserlohe, C.; Voges, W.; Hasinger, G.
AA(I. Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Germany) AB(I. Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Germany) AC(I. Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Germany & ESO) AD(I. Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Germany) AE(I. Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Germany) AF(I. Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Germany) AG(I. Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Germany) AH(Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany) AI(Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany)
Abstract:
The new VLT instrument SINFONI gives us a view onto the circumnuclear properties of AGN in unprecedented detail, even beyond our local Universe. As a science verification target, the showcase object Mrk 609 demonstrates impressively the necessity of adaptive optics assisted integral-field spectroscopy in order to distinguish between Seyfert and starburst characteristics on nuclear scales.
References:
Baldwin J. A., Phillips M. M. and Terlevich R. 1981,
PASP 93, 5
Gillessen S. et al. 2006, The Messenger 120, 26
Knapen J. H. 2005, Ap&SS 295, 85
Malkan M. A. et al. 1998, ApJS 117, 25
Moran E. C. et al. 1996, ApJS 106, 341
Rodríguez-Ardila A. et al. 2005, MNRAS 364, 1041
Shlosman I., Begelman M. C. and Frank J. 1990,
Nature 345, 679
Lípari S. L. and Terlevich R. J. 2006, MNRAS 368,
1001
Zuther J. et al. 2007, A&A 466, 451

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...47S
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Savaglio, Sandra; Budavári, Tamás; Glazebrook, Karl; Le Borgne, Damien; Le Floc'h, Emeric; Chen, Hsiao-Wen; Greiner, Jochen; Yoldas, Aybuk Küpcü
AA(Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, Germany) AB(Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA) AC(Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia) AD(CEA-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France) AE(Institute for Astronomy, Honolulu, Hawaii) AF(University of Chicago, USA) AG(Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, Germany) AH(Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, Germany)
Abstract:
GHostS is the largest public data-base on gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galax-ies and is accessible at the URL http://www.grbhosts.org. Started in 2005, it currently contains photometric and spectroscopic information on 39 GRB hosts, almost 2/5 of the total number of GRBs with measured redshift. It will continue to grow, together with the unstoppable data flow from the obser-vatories all over the world, every time a new event is discovered. Among other features, GHostS uses the Virtual Observatory resources.
References:
Berger E. et al. 2005, ApJ 642, 979
Berger E. et al. 2006, ArXiv Astrophysics e-prints,
arXiv: astro-ph/0603689
Fynbo J. P. U. et al. 2006, A&A 451, L47
Gehrels N. et al. 2005, Nature 437, 851
Kawai N. et al. 2005, GRB Coordinates Network
3937, 1
Küpcü Yoldas A., Greiner J. and Perna R. 2006,
A&A 457, 115
Masetti N. et al. 2006, GRB Coordinates Network
4803, 1
Savaglio S. 2006, New Journal of Physics 8, 195
Totani T. et al. 2006, PASJ 58, 485

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...51T
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Tapken, C.; Appenzeller, I.; Gabasch, A.; Heidt, J.; Hopp, U.; Bender, R.; Noll, S.; Seitz, S.; Richling, S.
AA(Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Heidelberg, Germany) AB(Landessternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl, Heidelberg, Germany) AC(Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Germany & Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany & ESO) AD(Landessternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl, Heidelberg, Germany) AE(Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Germany & Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany) AF(Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Germany & Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany) AG(Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Germany & Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany) AH(Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Germany & Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany) AI(Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris, France)
Abstract:
Observations of high-redshift galaxies show that at early cosmic epochs the cosmic UV radiation field appears to be dominated by small galaxies with strong Ly-alpha emission. Although usually small and of relatively low luminosity, these galaxies are easily identified from their line emission. Observations with the VLT resulted in significant progress in the understanding of the nature of these distant galaxies and of their role in the early Universe.
References:
Appenzeller I. et al. 2000, The Messenger 116, 18
Hu E. M., Cowie L. L. and McMahon R. G. 1998,
ApJL 502, L99
Meinköhn E. and Richling S. 2002, A&A 392, 827
Noll S. et al. 2004, A&A 418, 885
Partridge R. B. and Peebles P. J. E. 1967, ApJ 147,
868
Shapley A. E. et al. 2003, ApJ 588, 65
Shimasaku K. et al. 2006, PASJ 58, 313
Tapken C. et al. 2004, A&A 416, L1
Tapken C. et al. 2006, A&A 455, 145
Tapken C. et al. 2007, A&A 467, 63

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...57G
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Grenon, M.
AA(Geneva Observatory, Switzerland)
Abstract:
The natural environment around the ALMA site, its flora, fauna and landscape morphology, are presented and interpreted in terms of combined geological and climatic evolution with, in parallel, the necessary biological adaptions. This part covers vegetation and animal life.
References:
Richter M. 2003, Lyonia 4(1), 1

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...62G
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Grothkopf, U.; Melo, C.; Erdmann, C.; Kaufer, A.; Leibundgut, B.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO) AE(ESO)
Abstract:
The productivity and scientific impact of observatories and individual instruments are one measure of their success. This article presents the results of a study where we have applied the h-index, previously proposed for individual researchers, to major ground-based observatories (VLT, Keck, Gemini, Subaru) as well as individual VLT instruments. The concept is expanded by exploring the time-dependence of the h-index h(t). Overall, the VLT appears to be among the most successful 8-m-class telescopes. We also show that ESO instruments are making important contributions to progress in astronomy.
References:
Delmotte N. et al. 2005, The Messenger 119, 50
Grothkopf U. et al. 2005, The Messenger 119, 45
Grothkopf U. and Stevens-Rayburn S. 2007, in
“Library and Information Services in Astronomy
V”, eds. S. Ricketts, C. Birdie and E. Isaksson,
ASP Conference Series, astro-ph/0610274
Hirsch J. E. 2005, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 102, 16569
Leibundgut B., Grothkopf U. and Treumann A.
2003, The Messenger 114, 46
Madrid J. P. and Macchetto F. D. 2007, in “Library
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ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...67P
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Primas, F.

Abstract:
Equal career opportunities require working conditions that make it possible to reconcile family needs and career development. This article describes the goals and main findings of a pilot investigation that has recently been ­carried out at ESO focusing on gender balance issues.
References:
The following list of publications includes recent results from studies similar to ours (some of which were mentioned in the text) as well as some sug-gestions for further reading. These references can be found in the form of articles or web sites. The list does not intend to be exhaustive, rather a starting point for the interested reader.
The Baltimore Charter for Women in Astronomy
(http://www.stsci.edu/stsci/meetings/WiA/BaltoCharter.html)
The Pasadena Recommendations (http://www.aas.
org/~cswa/Equity_Now_Pasadena.pdf)
The European Commission reviews on Gender
Equality (http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/gender_equality/index_en.html) and their publications, including the most recent (2007) report (http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/emplweb/gender_equality/publications_en.cfm)
A Study on the Status of Women Faculty in Science
at MIT (1999 and its 2002 update) (http://web.mit.edu/faculty/reports/pdf/sos.pdf)
Review of the Status of Women at STScI (2002)
(http://www.aura-astronomy.org/nv/womensReport.
pdf) and the AURA (Association of Universi-ties for Research in Astronomy) response to the report (http://www.aura-astronomy.org/nv/response.pdf)
The AIP (American Institute of Physics) Report on
“Women in Physics and Astronomy, 2005” (http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/reports/women05.pdf)
The IAU (International Astronomical Union) Working
Group of Women in Astronomy (http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/IAU-WIAWG/)
The AAS (American Astronomical Society) Commit-
tee on the Status of Women in Astronomy (http://www.aas.org/~cswa/)
The IUPAP (International Union of Pure and Applied
Physics) Working Group on Women in Physics (http://www.iupap.org/wg/wip/index.html)

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...72S
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Sterzik, M.; Dumas, C.
AA(ESO), AB(ESO)
Abstract:
Nowadays, the ESO premises in Vitacura host more than 80 PhD students, fel- lows and astronomers, and represent the research centre for the scientific staff de-ployed at the different observatory sites in Chile. Several topical working groups help locally to actively promote and foster joint research initiatives among ESO sci-entists. One example is the “Planetary Sciences Research Group” at ESO Chile (http://www.sc.eso.org/santiago/science/PlanetaryGroup), which seeks to understand the formation of planetary systems at large and the place occupied by our own Solar System. Group members are actively involved in observation-oriented programmes making use of ESO facilities to carry out front-line research ranging from discoveries of new brown dwarfs and exoplanets, to the study of primitive Solar System bodies.

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...73W
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Warmels, R.; Zech, G.
AA(ESO), AB(ESO)
Abstract:
Recently, the ESO Web went through a major revision and was re-launched with a new Look and Feel and new navigation tools. This article gives an overview of why and how the ESO Web has changed.

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...75.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Maria Messineo; Laura Parker

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...76.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...77.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere awards several postdoctoral fellowships each year. The goal of these fellowships is to offer young scientists op-portunities and facilities to enhance their research programmes by facilitating close contact between young astronomers and the activities and staff at one of the world’s foremost observatories.

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128Q..78.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
This meeting will focus on the following question: how does gas get into galaxies and what are the processes that regu-late the rate at which the gas then turns into stars? The conference will bring together both theoreticians and observational astronomers working at different wavelengths, using different techniques, both at low and at high redshifts. The topics to be addressed in the conference are:

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128R..78.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Now ALMA has entered its main construction phase, ESO and RadioNet are organising two back-to-back meetings in Garching, aimed at the European astro-nomical community.

ADS BibCode:
2007Msngr.128...80.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)