ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153....2K
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Kraus, M.; Tamai, R.; Jolley, P.; Hess, G.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO)
Abstract:
Originally the technical archives at ESO grew organically and lacked a single coherent storage and access system. A search for a powerful product data management (PDM) system to unify the document archives of observatory, telescope and instrument technical material was initiated. After a careful assessment of the possible systems, it was decided to implement the Kronodoc system and its recent introduction as the ESO PDM system is described.

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153....5A
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Aerts, C.; Hussain, G.; Patat, F.
AA(Instituut voor Sterrenkunde, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium; Chair, ESO Observing Programmes Committee) AB(ESO) AC(ESO)
References:
Pepe, F., Mayor, M. & Rupprecht, G. 2002, The Messenger, 110, 9; Piskunov, N. et al. 2011, The Messenger, 143, 7

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153....6P
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Pepe, F.; Cristiani, S.; Rebolo, R.; Santos, N. C.; Dekker, H.; Mégevand, D.; Zerbi, F. M.; Cabral, A.; Molaro, P.; Di Marcantonio, P.; Abreu, M.; Affolter, M.; Aliverti, M.; Allende Prieto, C.; Amate, M.; Avila, G.; Baldini, V.; Bristow, P.; Broeg, C.; Cirami, R.; Coelho, J.; Conconi, P.; Coretti, I.; Cupani, G.; D’Odorico, V.; De Caprio, V.; Delabre, B.; Dorn, R.; Figueira, P.; Fragoso, A.; Galeotta, S.; Genolet, L.; Gomes, R.; González Hernández, J. I.; Hughes, I.; Iwert, O.; Kerber, F.; Landoni, M.; Lizon, J.-L.; Lovis, C.; Maire, C.; Mannetta, M.; Martins, C.; Monteiro, M. A.; Oliveira, A.; Poretti, E.; Rasilla, J. L.; Riva, M.; Santana Tschudi, S.; Santos, P.; Sosnowska, D.; Sousa, S.; Spanò, P.; Tenegi, F.; Toso, G.; Vanzella, E.; Viel, M.; Zapatero Osorio, M. R.
AA(Observatoire de l’Université de Genève, Versoix, Switzerland) AB(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) AC(Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain) AD(Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto, Portugal) AE(ESO) AF(Observatoire de l’Université de Genève, Versoix, Switzerland) AG(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Merate, Italy) AH(CAAUL, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal) AI(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) AJ(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) AK(CAAUL, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal) AL(Physics Institute of University of Bern, Switzerland) AM(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Merate, Italy) AN(Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain) AO(Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain) AP(ESO) AQ(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) AR(ESO) AS(Physics Institute of University of Bern, Switzerland) AT(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) AU(CAAUL, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal) AV(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Merate, Italy) AW(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) AX(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) AY(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) AZ(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Merate, Italy) BA(ESO) BB(ESO) BC(Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto, Portugal) BD(Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain) BE(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) BF(Observatoire de l’Université de Genève, Versoix, Switzerland) BG(LOLS, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal) BH(Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain) BI(Observatoire de l’Université de Genève, Versoix, Switzerland) BJ(ESO) BK(ESO) BL(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Merate, Italy) BM(ESO) BN(Observatoire de l’Université de Genève, Versoix, Switzerland) BO(Observatoire de l’Université de Genève, Versoix, Switzerland) BP(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) BQ(Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto, Portugal) BR(Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto, Portugal) BS(LOLS, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal) BT(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Merate, Italy) BU(Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain) BV(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Merate, Italy) BW(Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain) BX(LOLS, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal) BY(Observatoire de l’Université de Genève, Versoix, Switzerland) BZ(Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto, Portugal) CA(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Merate, Italy) CB(Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain) CC(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Merate, Italy) CD(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Bologna, Italy) CE(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) CF(Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC–INTA, Madrid, Spain)
Abstract:
ESPRESSO is the next generation European exoplanet hunter, combining the efficiency of a modern echelle spectrograph with extreme radial velocity and spectroscopic precision. ESPRESSO will be installed in the Combined Coudé Laboratory of the VLT and linked to the four Unit Telescopes (UT) through optical coudé trains, operated either with a single UT or with up to four UTs for 1.5 magnitude gain. The instrumental radial velocity precision will reach the 10 cm s^–1 level and ESPRESSO will achieve a gain of two magnitudes with respect to its predecessor HARPS. This is the first VLT instrument using the incoherent combination of light from four telescopes and, together with the extreme precision requirements, calls for many innovative design solutions while ensuring the technical heritage of HARPS.
References:
Amendola, L. et al. 2012, Phys. Rev. D, 86, 063515; Bahcall, J. et al. 1967, ApJ, 149, L11; Baranne, A. et al. 1996, A&A, S119, 373; Caffau, E. et al. 2011, Nature, 477, 67; Chaplin, W. J. & Miglio, A. 2013, Ann. Rev. A&A, in press, arXiv:1303.1957; Chazelas, B. et al. 2012, Modern Technologies in Space- and Ground-based Telescopes and Instrumentation II, Proc. SPIE, 845013; Dumusque, X. et al. 2012, Nature, 491, 207; Flambaum, V. V. & Kozlov, A. 2007, Phys. Rev. Lett., 98, 240801; Heger, A. & Woosley, S. E. 2010, ApJ, 724, 341; Howard, A. W. et al. 2012, ApJS, 201, 15; King, J. A. 2012, arXiv:1202.6365; Levshakov, S. A. et al. 2013, arXiv:1307.8266; Liske, J. et al. 2008, MNRAS, 386, 1192; Lo Curto, G. et al. 2012, The Messenger, 149, 2; Martins, J. et al. 2013, MNRAS, in press Mayor, M. et al. 2003, The Messenger, 112, 20; Mayor, M. et al. 2011, arXiv:1109.2497M Murphy, M. 2004, Lecture Notes in Physics, 648, 131; Peacock, J. et al. 2006, ESA-ESO Working Group. Report No. 3; Fundamental cosmology, (Garching: ST-ECF) Pepe, F. et al. 2011, A&A, 534, 58; Perryman, M. et al. 2005, ESA-ESO Working Group. Report No. 1; Extra-solar planets, (Garching: ST-ECF) Rahmani, H. et al. 2013, arXiv:1307.5864; Rosenband, T. et al. 2008, Science, 319, 1808; Sandage, A. 1962, ApJ, 136, 319; Snellen, I. 2013a, Hot Planets and Cool Stars, Garching, Germany, ed. R. Saglia, EPJ Web of Conferences, 47, id. 11001; Snellen, I. et al. 2013b, ApJ, 764, 182; Thompson, R. I. 1975, ApJ Lett., 16, 3; Uzan, J.-P. 2011, Living Reviews in Relativity, 14, 2; Webb, J. et al. 1999, Phys. Rev. Lett., 82, 884; Webb, J. et al. 2011, Phys. Rev. Lett., 107, 191101

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153...18L
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
de Laverny, P.; Recio-Blanco, A.; Worley, C. C.; De Pascale, M.; Hill, V.; Bijaoui, A.
AA(Laboratoire Lagrange, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, France) AB(Laboratoire Lagrange, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, France) AC(Laboratoire Lagrange, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, France; Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, UK) AD(Laboratoire Lagrange, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, France; ESO) AE(Laboratoire Lagrange, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, France) AF(Laboratoire Lagrange, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, France)
Abstract:
AMBRE is a Galactic archaeology project set up by ESO and the Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur in order to determine the stellar atmospheric parameters for the archived spectra from the ESO spectrographs FEROS, HARPS, UVES and GIRAFFE. A total of about 230000 spectra have now been homogeneously analysed and, for most (i.e., the slow-rotating FGKM-type stars), parameterised by their effective temperatures, surface gravities, global metallicities, α-element to iron abundance ratios and radial velocities. The determination of the stellar parameters is carried out using a pipeline that has been specifically developed for AMBRE. This pipeline is based on the MATISSE algorithm initially developed for the analysis of the Gaia Radial Velocity Spectrometer data.
References:
de Laverny, P. et al. 2012, A&A, 544, 126; De Pascale, M. et al. 2013, A&A, submitted Gazzano, J.-C. et al. 2010, A&A, 523, A91; Gilmore, G. et al. 2012, The Messenger, 147, 25; Kordopatis, G. et al. 2011, A&A, 535, A106; Kordopatis, G. et al. 2013, ApJ, submitted Recio-Blanco, A., Bijaoui, A. & de Laverny, P. 2006, MNRAS, 370, 141; Recio-Blanco, A. 2012, in SF2A2012: Proc. Ann. Meeting French Society of Aston. Astrophys., eds. V. Boissier et al., 107; Worley, C. C. et al. 2012, A&A, 542, A48; Worley, C. C. et al. 2013, A&A, submitted

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153...22M
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Molaro, P.; Monaco, L.; Barbieri, M.; Zaggia, S.
AA(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) AB(ESO) AC(Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Universitá degli Studi di Padova, Italy) AD(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Italy)
Abstract:
On 6 June 2012 the black disc of Venus passed across the Solar disc, taking nearly eight hours to complete the transit. The event was followed by millions of people worldwide. The transit of Venus is one of the rarest astronomical events, occurring approximately every 120 years. By means of HARPS spectroscopic observations, and using the Moon as a mirror, we detected the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect due to the eclipse by Venus of the Solar disc with a precision of few cm s^–1. The observation demonstrates that this effect can be measured even for transits of exoplanets of Earth size, or even smaller, provided enough photons can be collected by a very high resolution and extremely stable spectrograph, such as the planned HIRES instrument for the E-ELT.
References:
Cook, J. & Green, C. 1771, RSTP, 61, 397; Halley, E. 1716, Phil. Trans. Royal Society, 29, 454; Harkness, W. 1888, AJ, 8, 108; McLaughlin, D. B. 1924, ApJ, 60, 22; Molaro, P. et al. 2013, MNRAS, 429, L79; Meeus, J. 1989, Transits, (Richmond, Virginia: Willmann-Bell) Pigatto, L. & Zanini, V. 2001, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, 4, 43; Proctor, R. A. 1874, Transits of Venus: A Popular Account of Past and Coming Transits, from the First Observed by Horrocks, A.D. 1639, to the Transit of A.D. 2012, (London: Longmans, Green and Co.) Queloz, D. et al. 2000, A&A, 359, L13; Rossiter, R. A. 1924, ApJ, 60

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153...25W
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Walsh, J.; Gillessen, S.; Genzel, R.; Fritz, T. K.; Eisenhauer, F.; Pfuhl, O.; Ott, T.; Schartmann, M.; Ballone, A.; Burkert, A.; Hau, G.; Girard, J.; O’Neal, J.; Bonnet, H.
AA(ESO) AB(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany) AC(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Le Conte Hall, University of California, Berkeley, USA) AD(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany) AE(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany) AF(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany) AG(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany) AH(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany; Universitätssternwarte, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, München, Germany) AI(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany; Universitätssternwarte, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, München, Germany) AJ(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany; Universitätssternwarte, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, München, Germany) AK(ESO) AL(ESO) AM(ESO) AN(ESO)
Abstract:
A gas cloud was detected within half an arcsecond of Sagittarius A* in 2011 in L'-band and subsequently in line emission of H and He. The emitting cloud can be traced back in time to 2002 and is in an orbit with a pericentre very close to the central massive black hole at the Galactic Centre. Named G2, the cloud is passing the pericentre from mid-2013 to probably mid-2014 and is being intensively monitored by many facilities. An update on the progress of G2 is reported, based on recent VLT observations with SINFONI.

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153...28F
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Fox, A. J.; Richter, P.; Wakker, B. P.; Lehner, N.; Howk, J. C.; Bland-Hawthorn, J.
AA(Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, USA) AB(University of Potsdam, Germany) AC(University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA) AD(University of Notre Dame, USA) AE(University of Notre Dame, USA) AF(University of Sydney, Australia)
Abstract:
Interactions between spiral galaxies and their dwarf satellites are often spectacular, producing extended streams of stripped gas and triggering new generations of star formation. The most striking local example lies in the outer halo of the Milky Way in the form of the Magellanic Stream. Extending for over 140 degrees, the Stream is a giant ribbon of gas trailing the orbit of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. Since its discovery over 40 years ago, the Stream has puzzled observers and theorists alike and raised many questions. New spectroscopic observations with the Hubble Space Telescope and VLT/UVES are addressing these questions and finding the origin of the Stream to be surprisingly complex.
References:
Besla, G. et al. 2010, ApJ, 721, L97; Bland-Hawthorn, J. et al. 2007, 670, L109; Brüns, C. et al. 2005, A&A, 432, 45; Dieter, N. H. 1971, A&A, 12, 59; Fox, A. J. et al. 2010, ApJ, 718, 1046; Fox, A. J. et al. 2013, ApJ, 772, 110; Gibson, B. K. et al. 2000, AJ, 120, 1803; Mastropietro, C. et al. 2005, MNRAS, 363, 509; Nidever, D., Majewski, S. R. & Burton, W. B. 2008, ApJ, 679, 432; Pagel, B. E. J. & Tautvaisiene, G. 1998, MNRAS, 299, 535; Putman, M. E. et al. 2003, ApJ, 586, 170; Richter, P. et al. 2013, ApJ, 772, 111; Wannier, P. & Wrixon, G. T. 1972, ApJ, 173, L119

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153...32R
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Ramsay, S.; Liske, J.; Padovani, P.; Spyromilio, J.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO)
Abstract:
The workshop brought together astronomers from the ESO community, and beyond, with the aim of developing the science cases for the future instrumentation programme for the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT). The two first-light instruments have already been chosen and the workshop focussed on the science cases for the following three instruments. After a review of the instrumentation programmes of E-ELT and the two other ELT projects, the sessions covered the scientific justifications for a mid-infrared instrument, a high resolution spectrograph and a multi-object spectrograph. A session was also devoted to future instrument concepts and other science cases. The workshop concluded with parallel discussions on the multi-object and high resolution spectrograph options and an open discussion.

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153...35R
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Rigopoulou, D.; Laing, R.; Withington, S.; Magdis, G.; Graves, S.; Richer, J.; Ellison, B.
AA(Astrophysics, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, UK; STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK) AB(ESO) AC(Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK) AD(Astrophysics, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, UK) AE(Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK) AF(Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK) AG(STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK)
Abstract:
The workshop formed an important part of an ALMA Development Plan Study, funded by ESO, and covered the science cases for terahertz observations with ALMA. About fifty participants, mostly from Europe, but also from North America and East Asia attended. The meeting was very successful in identifying both extragalactic and Galactic science cases for all three accessible atmospheric transmission windows (centred at 1.04, 1.33 and 1.51 THz) and also discussed the potential of the ALMA site for terahertz observing.
References:
Dalgarno, A. 2000, in Molecular hydrogen in space, eds. F. Combes & G. Pineau des Forêts, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), 3; Kamaya, H. & Silk, J. 2002, MNRAS, 332, 251; Laing, R. et al. 2010, The Messenger, 141, 41; Mizusawa, H. et al. 2004, PASJ, 56, 487; Rigopoulou, D. et al. 2002, A&A, 389, 374; Rigopoulou, D. et al. 2013, ApJ, submitted Saslaw, W. C. & Zipoy, D. 1967, Nature, 216, 976; Vastel, C. et al. 2012, A&A, 547, A33

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153...38D
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Dąbrowski, B.; Karlický, M.
AA(Astronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Ondřejov, Czech Republic) AB(Astronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Ondřejov, Czech Republic)
Abstract:
The Czech node is one of the ALMA European Regional Centres and is the only one to support solar observations. The second workshop in the series is briefly described: the main themes were the scope of solar observation with ALMA, planning observations and the science that can be achieved.

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153...39M
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Madsen, C.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Massimo Tarenghi, chronologically MPG/ESO project scientist, NTT project manager, VLT programme manager and first Director, ALMA Director and ESO Representative in Chile, has retired after 35 years at ESO. A brief summary of his achievements is presented.
References:
ESO, 1998, The Messenger, 92, 1; Madsen, C. 2012, The Jewel on the Mountaintop — The European Southern Observatory through Fifty Years, (Weinheim: Wiley-VCH) Wilson, R. 1989, The Messenger, 56, 1

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153...42W
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Walsh, J.; Emsellem, E.; Melo, C.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO)
Abstract:
The motivation for Science Days at ESO, when everyone has an opportunity to briefly present their current research, is outlined. The Science Day held in Garching in 2013 is briefly described as an example.

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153...432
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Mehner, A.; Davis, T.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153...45.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153...46.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)

ADS BibCode:
2013Msngr.153...47.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)