ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138....2
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
The new ESO survey telescope VISTA (the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy) was recently commissioned at Paranal and has just released its first public images.
References:
Arnaboldi, M. et al. 2007, The Messenger, 127, 28; Emerson, J. P. et al. 2004, The Messenger, 117, 27; Emerson, J. P. et al. 2006, The Messenger, 126, 41

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138....4V
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Vernet, J.; D’Odorico, S.; Christensen, L.; Dekker, H.; Mason, E.; Modigliani, A.; Moehler, S.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(Excellence Cluster Universe, Technische Universität München, Germany) AD(ESO) AE(ESO) AF(ESO) AG(ESO)
Abstract:
X-shooter, the new three-arm spectrograph at the VLT promises to be a powerful tool for high quality observations of targets of intermediate and faint magnitude at any redshift. The instrument capabilities are summarised and several examples of its use for the spectroscopy of intermediate and high redshift objects presented.
References:
Belokurov, V. et al. 2007, ApJL, 671, L9; D’Odorico, S. 2008, The Messenger, 134, 12; Jiang, H. et al. 2007, ApJ, 134, 1150; Pettini, M. 2009, arXiv0909.3301v1; Vernet, J. et al. 2007, The Messenger, 130, 5

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138....7.
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138....8S
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Smoker, J.; Haddad, N.; Iwert, O.; Deiries, S.; Modigliani, A.; Randall, S.; D’Odorico, S.; James, G.; Lo Curto, G.; Robert, P.; Pasquini, L.; Downing, M.; Ledoux, C.; Martayan, C.; Dall, T.; Vinther, J.; Melo, C.; Fox, A.; Pritchard, J.; Baade, D.; Dekker, H.
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) AO(ESO) AP(ESO) AQ(ESO) AR(ESO) AS(ESO) AT(ESO) AU(ESO)
Abstract:
During July 2009, a new MIT CCD, Zeus (previously part of the EMMI spectrograph), was installed in UVES to replace Nigel, the high-wavelength part of the red CCD mosaic. The main characteristics of Zeus are reported.
References:
Bagnulo, S. et al. 2003, The Messenger, 114, 10; Dekker, H. et al. 2000, SPIE, 4008, 534

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138...10S
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Schmidtobreick, L.; Mardones, P.; Castillo, R.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO)
Abstract:
In August 2009, ISAAC was relocated from UT1 to UT3 to adjust the difference in the pressure factor of the two telescopes. The move went more smoothly than expected and the instrument was delivered in a very good state. A short report on the event is presented.

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138...11K
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Kissler-Patig, M.; Küpcü Yoldaş, A.; Liske, J.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO)
Abstract:
The European Extremely Large Telescope is in its detailed design phase until the end of 2010. During this period, the telescope design is being consolidated and instrument and operation concepts are being studied. The scientific users are feeding back requirements into the project in numerous ways. One of them, the Design Reference Science Plan, was an opportunity for the entire community to provide direct feedback to the project. Here, we summarise the first results from this study. The full report will appear in the first half of 2010.
References:
Hook, I. et al. 2009, The Messenger, 137, 51; Spyromilio, J. et al. 2008, The Messenger, 133, 1

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138...15K
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Korhonen, H.; Hubrig, S.; Kővári, Z.; Weber, M.; Strassmeier, K.; Hackman, T.; Wittkowski, M.
AA(ESO) AB(Astrophysical Institute Potsdam, Germany) AC(Konkoly Observatory, Budapest, Hungary) AD(Astrophysical Institute Potsdam, Germany) AE(Astrophysical Institute Potsdam, Germany) AF(Observatory, University of Helsinki, Finland) AG(ESO)
Abstract:
The low resolution spectropolarimetric observations obtained with FORS1 at the VLT have often been used for investigating magnetic fields in hot stars. Here we describe the first investigation of the magnetic field over the stellar rotation in a cool late-type star, FK Com, based on FORS1 spectropolarimetry. We measure the mean longitudinal magnetic field from nine circularly polarised spectra, and study its behaviour over the stellar rotation. The magnetic field measurements are compared to a simultaneous stellar surface temperature map obtained with Doppler imaging techniques. These observations reveal two cool spots on the surface, and indicate that the main cool region coincides with the maximum value of the mean longitudinal magnetic field. Additionally, only 0.25 in phase apart from the main spot, the secondary spot is located at a similar phase to the field minimum. The observations can be interpreted as two spots having different magnetic field polarities, implying that the starspot configuration on FK Com is similar to that observed in the Sun.
References:
Berdyugina, S. V. & Tuominen, K. 1998, A&A, 36, 25; Bopp, B. W. & Stencel, R. E. 1981, ApJ, 247, L131; Drake, J. J. et al. 2008, ApJ, 679, 1522; Hale, G. E. 1908, ApJ, 28, 315; Hubrig, S. et al. 2009, The Messenger, 135, 21; Jetsu, L. et al. 1993, 278, 449; Korhonen, H. et al. 2002, A&A, 390, 179; Korhonen, H. et al. 2007, A&A, 476, 881; Korhonen, H. et al. 2009, MNRAS, 395, 282; Strassmeier, K. G. 2009, A&AR, 17, 251; Strassmeier, K. G. et al. 2005, A&A, 440, 1105; Tuominen, K. et al. 2002, AN, 323, 367; Usoskin, I. G. et al. 2005, A&A, 441, 347; Vogt, S. S. et al. 1987, ApJ, 321, 496

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138...19M
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Mignani, R.
AA(Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, United Kingdom)
Abstract:
In this review I summarise some of the most important results obtained in ten years of VLT observations of isolated neutron stars. More general reviews are presented in Shearer (2008) and in Mignani (2009), to which the reader is referred for a complete reference list.
References:
Abdo, A. A. et al. 2009, ApJ, submitted, arXiv:0910.1608v1; Becker, W. 2009, in Neutron Stars and Pulsars, ASSL, 357, 91; De Luca, A. 2008, in 40; Years of Pulsars, AIP, 983, 311 Gold, T. 1968, Nature, 218, 731; Haberl, F. 2007, Ap&SS, 308, 181; Lorimer, D. L. 2009, in Neutron Stars and Pulsars, ASSL, 1, 289; McLaughlin, M. A. 2009, in Neutron Stars and Pulsars, ASSL, 357, 41; Mereghetti, S. 2008, A&A Rev., 15, 225; Mignani, R. P., Caraveo, P. A. & Bignami, G. F. 1999, A&A, 343, L5; Mignani, R. P., Caraveo, P. A. & Bignami, G. F. 2000, The Messenger, 99, 22; Mignani, R. P. 2009, in Neutron Stars and g-ray Bursts, AIP, in press, arXiv:0908.1010; Pacini, F. 1968, Nature, 219, 145; Pacini, F. & Salvati, M. 1983, ApJ, 274, 369; Shearer, A. 2008, in High Time Resolution Astro- physics, ASSL, 351, 1

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138...26S
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Smail, I.; Walter, F.; The Less Consortium
AA(Department of Physics, Durham University, United Kingdom) AB(Institute for Computational Cosmology, Durham University, United Kingdom) AC(Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn, Germany) AD(The Less Consortium)
Abstract:
We present the latest results from the LABOCA Extended Chandra Deep Field South (ECDFS) Submillimetre Survey (LESS), a joint 300-hour ESO–MPG survey of the 30 × 30 arcminute ECDFS field using the LABOCA camera on the 12-metre APEX telescope. This survey provides an important new waveband for comparison to previous studies of galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the ECDFS, and one which is particularly sensitive to obscured starburst galaxies out to very high redshifts (z < 8). We highlight the identification in the LESS map of the highest redshift submillimetre galaxy currently known, as well as high significance statistical detections of a variety of star-forming galaxies and AGN, their clustering and evolution with redshift within the ECDFS.
References:
Austermann, J. E. et al. 2009, MNRAS, in press, arXiv:0907.1093; Blain, A. W. & Longair, M. S. 1993, MNRAS, 265, L21; Caldwell, J. A. R. et al. 2008, ApJS, 174, 136; Chapman, S. C. et al. 2005, ApJ, 622, 772; Coppin, K. E. K. et al. 2006, MNRAS, 273, 1621; Coppin, K. E. K. et al. 2009, MNRAS, 395, 1905; Devlin, M. J. et al. 2009, Nature, 458, 737; Gawiser, E. et al. 2006, ApJS, 162, 1; Greve, T. R. et al. 2009, ApJ, submitted, arXiv:0904.0028; Ivison, R. J. et al. 2002, MNRAS, 337, 1; Lehmer, B. D. et al. 2005, ApJS, 161, 21; Luo, B. et al. 2008, ApJS, 179, 19; Lutz, D. et al. 2009, ApJ, submitted Sanders, D. & Mirabel, F. 1996, ARAA, 34, 749; Siringo, G. et al. 2007, The Messenger, 129, 2; Siringo, G. et al. 2009, A&A, 497, 945; Smail, I., Ivison, R. J. & Blain, A. W. 1997, ApJ, 490, L5; Swinbank, A. M. et al. 2006, MNRAS, 371, 465; Weiss, A. et al. 2009, ApJ, submitted, arXiv:0910.2821; Wolf, C. et al. 2008, A&A, 492, 933

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138...31B
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Baade, D.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
In the 1980s and 1990s, the developments in sensitivity, size, and effective image quality of semiconductor detectors progressed faster and with lower cost than any equivalent increase in the geometrical light-collecting power of optical/infrared telescopes could have achieved. Now, in the era of Extra Large Telescopes, where light-collecting power is again increasing and ever more sophisticated space-borne instruments are in preparation, the growing maturity of detectors still forms an important cornerstone of these large investments. The recent workshop brought together many of the world’s leading detector developers, producers and users, as well as astronomers, to exchange ideas, questions and solutions with the aim of enabling detector systems to optimally support the exciting astronomy projects of the future.
References:
D’Odorico, S. et al. 1991, The Messenger, 65, 43

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138...33C
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Christensen, L.L.
AA(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138Q..34C
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Christensen, L.L.; Sjöberg, B.; Janssen, E.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138R..34C
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Christensen, L.L.
AA(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138...35C
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Christensen, L.L.
AA(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138...35.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138...36.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138...38.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138Q..39.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2009Msngr.138R..39.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)