European
Southern
Observatory

The surface of the red giant star π1 Gruis from PIONIER on the VLT

eso1741 — Photo Release

Giant Bubbles on Red Giant Star’s Surface

Astronomers using ESO’s Very Large Telescope have for the first time directly observed granulation patterns on the surface of a star outside the Solar System — the ageing red giant π1 Gruis. This remarkable new image from the PIONIER instrument reveals the convective cells that make up the surface of this huge star, which has 350 times the diameter of the Sun. Each cell covers more than a quarter of the star’s diameter and measures about 120 million kilometres across. These new results are being published this week in the journal Nature.

Stellar Nursery Blooms into View

eso1740 — Photo Release

Stellar Nursery Blooms into View

The OmegaCAM camera on ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope has captured this glittering view of the stellar nursery called Sharpless 29. Many astronomical phenomena can be seen in this giant image, including cosmic dust and gas clouds that reflect, absorb, and re-emit the light of hot young stars within the nebula.

Data from ESPRESSO First Light

eso1739 — Organisation Release

First Light for ESPRESSO — the Next Generation Planet Hunter

The Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanet and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO) has successfully made its first observations. Installed on ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, ESPRESSO will search for exoplanets with unprecedented precision by looking at the minuscule changes in the light of their host stars. For the first time ever, an instrument will be able to sum up the light from all four VLT telescopes and achieve the light collecting power of a 16-metre telescope.

The Hubble Ultra Deep Field seen with MUSE

eso1738 — Science Release

MUSE Probes Uncharted Depths of Hubble Ultra Deep Field

Astronomers using the MUSE instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope in Chile have conducted the deepest spectroscopic survey ever. They focused on the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, measuring distances and properties of 1600 very faint galaxies including 72 galaxies that have never been detected before, even by Hubble itself. This groundbreaking dataset has already resulted in 10 science papers that are being published in a special issue of Astronomy & Astrophysics. This wealth of new information is giving astronomers insight into star formation in the early Universe, and allows them to study the motions and other properties of early galaxies — made possible by MUSE’s unique spectroscopic capabilities.

Artist’s impression of the interstellar asteroid `Oumuamua

eso1737 — Science Release

ESO Observations Show First Interstellar Asteroid is Like Nothing Seen Before

For the first time ever astronomers have studied an asteroid that has entered the Solar System from interstellar space. Observations from ESO’s Very Large Telescope in Chile and other observatories around the world show that this unique object was traveling through space for millions of years before its chance encounter with our star system. It appears to be a dark, reddish, highly-elongated rocky or high-metal-content object. The new results appear in the journal Nature on 20 November 2017.

Artist’s impression of the planet Ross 128 b

eso1736 — Science Release

Closest Temperate World Orbiting Quiet Star Discovered

A temperate Earth-sized planet has been discovered only 11 light-years from the Solar System by a team using ESO’s unique planet-hunting HARPS instrument. The new world has the designation Ross 128 b and is now the second-closest temperate planet to be detected after Proxima b. It is also the closest planet to be discovered orbiting an inactive red dwarf star, which may increase the likelihood that this planet could potentially sustain life. Ross 128 b will be a prime target for ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope, which will be able to search for biomarkers in the planet's atmosphere.

Artist’s impression of the dust belts around Proxima Centauri

eso1735 — Science Release

ALMA Discovers Cold Dust Around Nearest Star

The ALMA Observatory in Chile has detected dust around the closest star to the Solar System, Proxima Centauri. These new observations reveal the glow coming from cold dust in a region between one to four times as far from Proxima Centauri as the Earth is from the Sun. The data also hint at the presence of an even cooler outer dust belt and may indicate the presence of an elaborate planetary system. These structures are similar to the much larger belts in the Solar System and are also expected to be made from particles of rock and ice that failed to form planets.

Revealing the galactic secrets of NGC 1316

eso1734 — Photo Release

Revealing Galactic Secrets

Countless galaxies vie for attention in this monster image of the Fornax Galaxy Cluster, some appearing only as pinpricks of light while others dominate the foreground. One of these is the lenticular galaxy NGC 1316. The turbulent past of this much-studied galaxy has left it with a delicate structure of loops, arcs and rings that astronomers have now imaged in greater detail than ever before with the VLT Survey Telescope. This astonishingly deep image also reveals a myriad of dim objects along with faint intracluster light.

Artist’s impression of merging neutron stars

eso1733 — Science Release

ESO Telescopes Observe First Light from Gravitational Wave Source

ESO’s fleet of telescopes in Chile have detected the first visible counterpart to a gravitational wave source. These historic observations suggest that this unique object is the result of the merger of two neutron stars. The cataclysmic aftermaths of this kind of merger — long-predicted events called kilonovae — disperse heavy elements such as gold and platinum throughout the Universe. This discovery, published in several papers in the journal Nature and elsewhere, also provides the strongest evidence yet that short-duration gamma-ray bursts are caused by mergers of neutron stars.

ALMA and Rosetta Detect Freon-40 in Space

eso1732 — Science Release

ALMA and Rosetta Detect Freon-40 in Space

Observations made with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and ESA’s Rosetta mission, have revealed the presence of the organohalogen Freon-40 in gas around both an infant star and a comet. Organohalogens are formed by organic processes on Earth, but this is the first ever detection of them in interstellar space. This discovery suggests that organohalogens may not be as good markers of life as had been hoped, but that they may be significant components of the material from which planets form. This result, which appears in the journal Nature Astronomy, underscores the challenge of finding molecules that could indicate the presence of life beyond Earth.

European
Southern
Observatory

ESO Director General meets European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation

21 Dec. 2017 — ann17088

ESO Director General meets European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation

Artist’s rendering of the ELT in operation

18 Dec. 2017 — ann17087

ESO Signs Contract for ELT Laser Sources

Cover of Science in School issue No.42

11 Dec. 2017 — ann17086

Science in School: Issue 42 now available

Artists’s Rendering of the primary mirror of the ELT

7 Dec. 2017 — ann17085

ESO to Build ELT With Full Primary Mirror

Willy Benz elected as ESO Council President

7 Dec. 2017 — ann17084

Willy Benz Elected Next ESO Council President

De Zeeuw-Van Dishoeck Graduation Prize for Astronomy 2017 Awarded to Laura Driessen

30 Nov. 2017 — ann17083

De Zeeuw-Van Dishoeck Graduation Prize for Astronomy 2017 Awarded to Laura Driessen

ESOcast 139: ALMA and the Cold Interstellar Clouds

27 Nov. 2017 — ann17082

ESOcast 139: Why Astronomers Want to Use ALMA — ALMA and the Cold Interstellar Clouds

ESO Astronomy Camp 2016

13 Nov. 2017 — ann17081

Winners of Fifth ESO Astronomy Camp Bursaries Announced

Paranal tour one of many now available in VR

10 Nov. 2017 — ann17079

Exciting New Virtual Reality Mode for ESO Virtual Tours 6.0

Open House Day 2016

8 Nov. 2017 — ann17078

ESO to Participate in FORSCHA Event again

ESOcast 135: ALMA is a timemachine!

2 Nov. 2017 — ann17077

ESOcast 135: Why Astronomers Want to Use ALMA — ALMA is a Time Machine!

Artist's impression of the planet NGTS-1b

31 Oct. 2017 — ann17076

New Exoplanet Survey Finds its First Planet

ESOcast 133: ESO Telescopes Observe First Light from Gravitational Wave Source

16 Oct. 2017 — ann17075

ESOcast 133: ESO Telescopes Observe First Light from Gravitational Wave Source

Open House Day 2017

16 Oct. 2017 — ann17074

Programme for the ESO Open House Day 2017 Now Available

ESO Live Video Streaming

16 Oct. 2017 — ann17073

Live Video Streaming of Press Conference about Unprecedented Discovery & Reddit AMA Session

ESOcast 132: Why Astronomers Want to Use ALMA - We are Stardust!

12 Oct. 2017 — ann17072

ESOcast 132: Why Astronomers Want to Use ALMA — We are Stardust!

ESO Press Conference

11 Oct. 2017 — ann17071

Media Advisory: Press Conference at ESO HQ Announcing Unprecedented Discovery

11 Oct. 2017 — ann17070

Irish Government Announces Commitment to Join ESO

Cover of The Messenger No. 169

6 Oct. 2017 — ann17069

The Messenger No. 169 Now Available

La Silla at night

6 Oct. 2017 — ann17068

ESO Endorses the European Open Science Cloud Declaration

4 Oct. 2017 — ann17067

BlackGEM Telescope to be Sited at ESO’s La Silla Observatory

All the winners of the 2017 EUCYS Awards

4 Oct. 2017 — ann17066

Winners of the 2017 European Union Contest for Young Scientists Announced

Cover of Science in School issue No.41

4 Oct. 2017 — ann17065

Science in School: Issue 41 now available

ESOcast 130: Why Astronomers Want to Use ALMA - ALMA is State of the Art Technology

2 Oct. 2017 — ann17064

ESOcast 130: Why Astronomers Want To Use ALMA - ALMA is State of the Art Technology

Open House Day 2017

28 Sept. 2017 — ann17063

ESO Open House Day 2017

Cover picture of CAP Journal issue 22

26 Sept. 2017 — ann17062

CAPjournal Issue 22 Now Available

ESOcast 128: Why Astronomers Want to Use ALMA - ALMA Observes the Invisible

25 Sept. 2017 — ann17061

ESOcast 128: Why Do Astronomers Want To Use ALMA - ALMA Observes the Invisible

MATISSE in the lab

15 Sept. 2017 — ann17060

Next-generation VLTI Instrument MATISSE Heads for Paranal

15 Sept. 2017 — ann17059

Winners of the 2017 Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year Announced

Photo Nightscape Awards 2017

12 Sept. 2017 — ann17058

Winners of the Photo NightScape Awards 2017 Announced

1 Sept. 2017 — ann17057

Join Us on a Journey to the Stars — the ESOblog Goes Live!

Conceptual drawing of the NIRPS instrument

1 Sept. 2017 — ann17056

ESO’s La Silla Observatory to Host New Planet Hunter

31 Aug. 2017 — ann17055

ESO Supernova has a new partner: Softmachine Immersive Productions GmbH comes into play

ESOcast 124: Q&A with ESO's Outgoing Director General Tim de Zeeuw — Thoughts and reflections on a decade at ESO

24 Aug. 2017 — ann17054

ESOcast 124: Q&A with Tim de Zeeuw, ESO's Outgoing Director General

ESPRESSO takes shape

22 Aug. 2017 — ann17053

ESPRESSO Planet Hunter Heads for Chile

2012 TC4 observed (annotated)

10 Aug. 2017 — ann17052

A Very Close Encounter

Artist's impression of the orbits of stars close to the Galactic Centre

9 Aug. 2017 — ann17051

Hint of Relativity Effects in Stars Orbiting Supermassive Black Hole at Centre of Galaxy

ESOcast 120: Chile Chill 10 – “VLT Main Mirror Recoating”

7 Aug. 2017 — ann17050

ESOcast 120: Chile Chill 10: VLT Main Mirror Recoating

ESO’s Paranal and Armazones sites are connected to the Chilean national electricity grid

4 Aug. 2017 — ann17049

Chilean Minister of Energy Sees Paranal Connect to National Electricity Grid

ESOcast 119: AOF First Light

2 Aug. 2017 — ann17048

ESOcast 119: AOF First Light

Cover of ESO calendar 2018

1 Aug. 2017 — ann17047

ESO Calendar 2018 Now Available

Cover of The Messenger No. 168

18 July 2017 — ann17046

The Messenger No. 168 Now Available

ESO on Instagram

14 July 2017 — ann17045

Follow ESO on Instagram

Sean Dougherty appointed ALMA Director

10 July 2017 — ann17044

ALMA Appoints New Director

ESA will site its Test-Bed Telescope at La Silla

7 July 2017 — ann17043

ESO and ESA Reach Agreement to Site Test-Bed Telescope at La Silla

ESOcast 116: Success or Failure: How to Get Observing Time

7 July 2017 — ann17042

ESOcast 116: OPC 100

The unusual exoplanet HIP 65426b — SPHERE's first

6 July 2017 — ann17041

ESO’s SPHERE Unveils its First Exoplanet

Mayan Archaeoastronomy Poster

6 July 2017 — ann17040

Mayan Archaeoastronomy: New Free Planetarium Show

All around the starry sky

4 July 2017 — ann17039

Planetarium News

The LEGO® model of the Paranal platform is handed over to ESO’s Director General

29 June 2017 — ann17038

Astronomers Build the Most Advanced Observatory in the World from LEGO®

ELT mirror segments being tested

19 June 2017 — ann17037

ELT Primary Mirror Prepares to Flex its Muscles

19 June 2017 — ann17036

Red Dots: The Live Search for Terrestrial Planets around Proxima Centauri Continues

ESOcast 112: Catching Starlight

16 June 2017 — ann17035

ESOcast 112: Catching Starlight

Summer AstroCamp 2016

15 June 2017 — ann17034

Winner of Summer AstroCamp 2017 Bursary Announced

Cover of Science in School issue No.40

15 June 2017 — ann17033

Science in School: Issue 40 Now Available

Cover of the Annual Report 2016

13 June 2017 — ann17032

ESO Annual Report 2016 Now Available

ELT adaptive optics

12 June 2017 — ann17031

Renaming the E-ELT

ESO Astronomy Camp

6 June 2017 — ann17030

Fifth ESO Astronomy Winter Camp for Secondary School Students

The Big Science Business Forum 2018

5 June 2017 — ann17029

Meet ESO at the Big Science Business Forum 2018

Moon and Venus over Chile

30 May 2017 — ann17028

Funding Opportunities in Chile (Anuncio de Oportunidades)

The optical system of the ELT showing the location of the mirrors

22 May 2017 — ann17027

ESO Awards ELT Sensor Contract to Teledyne e2v

APEX and snowy Chajnantor

12 May 2017 — ann17026

APEX Extension Agreement Signed

Muse the Medusa

11 May 2017 — ann17025

MUSE: New Free Film about ESO’s Cosmic Time Machine

Watching last minute proposals come in

10 May 2017 — ann17024

ALMA Receives Over 1700 Proposals for Next Observing Cycle

Strategic partnership discussions between Australia and ESO

9 May 2017 — ann17023

Start of Strategic Partnership Discussions Between Australia and ESO

ESOcast 106: ChileChill 9 — Lasers over Paranal

5 May 2017 — ann17022

ESOcast 106: Chile Chill 9 - Lasers Over Paranal

Rachael Roettenbacher, winner of the 2017 Olivier Chesneau Prize

3 May 2017 — ann17021

2017 Olivier Chesneau Prize Awarded to Rachael Roettenbacher

ESOcast 104: Data2Dome: From the Universe to You

27 April 2017 — ann17020

ESOcast 104: Data2Dome: From the Universe to You

27 April 2017 — ann17019

ESO and Partners Launch Innovative Data2Dome Planetarium System

Bernard Delabre

6 April 2017 — ann17018

ESO Engineer Wins 2017 Tycho Brahe Prize

Artist's rendering of the Extremely Large Telescope

5 April 2017 — ann17017

Media Advisory: Extremely Large Telescope First Stone Ceremony

Summer AstroCamp 2017

4 April 2017 — ann17016

Apply Now for the Summer AstroCamp 2017

The Event Horizon Telescope and Global mm-VLBI Array on the Earth

31 March 2017 — ann17015

Attempting the Impossible: Taking the First Picture of a Black Hole

Cover of Science in School issue No.39

31 March 2017 — ann17014

Science in School: Issue 39 Now Available

Pale Red Dot campaign wins Guardian University Award

30 March 2017 — ann17013

Pale Red Dot Campaign Wins Guardian University Award

Cover of The Messenger No. 167

28 March 2017 — ann17012

The Messenger No. 167 Now Available

Consular Corps visits ESO HQ

17 March 2017 — ann17011

Consular Corps Visits ESO HQ in Garching

15 March 2017 — ann17010

Catch a Star 2017 Contest Now Open

Number of papers published using observational data from different observatories (1996–2016)

3 March 2017 — ann17009

ESO Remains World’s Most Productive Ground-based Observatory

ESOcast 96: Ultracool Dwarf and the Seven Planets

22 Feb. 2017 — ann17008

ESOcast 96: Ultracool Dwarf and the Seven Planets

22 Feb. 2017 — ann17007

2017 Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition Opens

AstroCamp students

20 Feb. 2017 — ann17006

ESO Announces Support of Summer AstroCamp

The optical system of the ELT showing the location of the mirrors

15 Feb. 2017 — ann17005

ESO Awards Contract to Polish the ELT Tertiary Mirror

Photo Nightscape Awards 2017

27 Jan. 2017 — ann17004

Win a Trip to Paranal with the Photo Nightscape Awards 2017

Dramatic moonset — amazing sight on Cerro Paranal, home of ESO’s Very Large Telescope*

20 Jan. 2017 — ann17003

Girls’ Day Event at ESO Headquarters in Garching, Germany

11 Jan. 2017 — ann17002

Catch a Star 2016 Contest Winners Announced

The Orion a molecular cloud from VISTA

4 Jan. 2017 — ann17001

ESOcast Light series

Orbital plot of Proxima Centauri

22 Dec. 2016 — ann16089

Orbit of Proxima Centauri Determined After 100 Years

Cover of The Messenger No. 166

20 Dec. 2016 — ann16088

The Messenger No. 166 Now Available

19 Dec. 2016 — ann16087

Space Scoop Selected as Great Website for Kids

A large slice of the Universe

15 Dec. 2016 — ann16086

3D Map of Distant Galaxies Completed

Cover picture of CAP Journal issue 21

15 Dec. 2016 — ann16085

CAPjournal Issue 21 Now Available

Cover of Science in School issue No.38

6 Dec. 2016 — ann16084

Science in School: Issue 38 Now Available

Winner of 2016 De Zeeuw-Van Dishoeck Graduation Prize for Astronomy announced

29 Nov. 2016 — ann16083

Winner of 2016 De Zeeuw-Van Dishoeck Graduation Prize for Astronomy Announced

ESOcast 89: Chile Chill 8 – “A Bird’s Eye View of ESO Observatories”

29 Nov. 2016 — ann16082

ESOcast 89: Chile Chill 8 - A Bird’s Eye View of ESO’s Observatories

Photo Nightscape Award 2016 award ceremony

14 Nov. 2016 — ann16081

Winners of 2016 Photo Nightscape Awards Announced

PARI 2017 workshop on Public Awareness of Research Infrastructures

9 Nov. 2016 — ann16080

ESO Hosts Workshop on Communicating Science to Society

ESO astronomy camp 2014

4 Nov. 2016 — ann16079

Winners of Fourth ESO Astronomy Camp Bursaries Announced

The VLT’s new deformable secondary mirror

28 Oct. 2016 — ann16078

First Light for Largest Adaptive Optics System

ESOcast 88: Fulldome Specialists visit Chile

27 Oct. 2016 — ann16077

ESOcast 88: Fulldome Specialists visit Chile

Former Finnish President Tarja Halonen visits ESO in Chile

25 Oct. 2016 — ann16076

Former Finnish President Visits Paranal

The predicted trajectory of Alpha Centauri A and B

20 Oct. 2016 — ann16075

The Future of Alpha Centauri

Night-time image from the Paranal webcam

20 Oct. 2016 — ann16074

New Webcams for ALMA and Paranal

ESPRESSO milestone

17 Oct. 2016 — ann16073

ESPRESSO Sees Light at the End of the Tunnel

17 Oct. 2016 — ann16072

Olivier Chesneau Prize 2017

ESO Open House Day 2016

17 Oct. 2016 — ann16071

Programme for the ESO Open House Day 2016 now available

ESO Youtube channel

11 Oct. 2016 — ann16070

ESO racks up five million views on YouTube

10 Oct. 2016 — ann16069

New ESO Supernova Partner: Evans & Sutherland

Winners of the 2016 European Union Contest for Young Scientists

29 Sept. 2016 — ann16068

Winners of the 2016 European Union Contest for Young Scientists Announced

ESO Open House Day 2016

28 Sept. 2016 — ann16067

ESO Open House Day 2016

Green power comes to La Silla

23 Sept. 2016 — ann16065

Green Power Comes to La Silla

Cover of The Messenger No. 165

21 Sept. 2016 — ann16064

The Messenger No. 165 Now Available

La Silla and surroundings

16 Sept. 2016 — ann16063

Media Advisory: Green Power Comes to La Silla

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year award ceremony

16 Sept. 2016 — ann16062

Winners of Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 announced

Cover of Science in School issue No.37

13 Sept. 2016 — ann16061

Science in School: Issue 37 now available

ESO staff share prestigious award celebrating innovation in laser technology

12 Sept. 2016 — ann16060

ESO Staff Share Prestigious Award Celebrating Innovation in Laser Technology

The ALMA Residencia design

9 Sept. 2016 — ann16059

ALMA Residencia Design Featured at Prestigious 2016 Architecture Biennale

1 Sept. 2016 — ann16058

New Free Planetarium Products from ESO

Radiance of Milky Way over La Silla

24 Aug. 2016 — ann16057

Media Advisory: Press Conference at ESO HQ to Make Important Announcement

ESOcast 87: Planet found around closest Star

24 Aug. 2016 — ann16056

ESOcast 87: Planet found around closest Star

Signature of the 4MOST agreement

23 Aug. 2016 — ann16055

Agreement Signed to Build 4MOST

Description of ALMA Cycle 4 main new capabilities

23 Aug. 2016 — ann16054

Record Amount of Time Requested in Cycle 4 Proposals for ALMA

Cover picture of CAP Journal issue 20

5 Aug. 2016 — ann16053

CAPjournal Issue 20 Now Available

ESO Calendar 2017 cover

3 Aug. 2016 — ann16052

ESO Calendar 2017 Now Available

ESO's Very Large Telescope array

2 Aug. 2016 — ann16051

Exciting New Virtual Tours of ESO’s Observatories and Facilities

19 July 2016 — ann16050

ALMA Explores the Magnetic Universe

ESOcast 86: From Dr. to Professor -- about the important role of ESO’s community

19 July 2016 — ann16049

ESOcast 86: Dr. J Becomes Prof. J

HE Bert Koenders in the control room at Paranal

18 July 2016 — ann16048

Dutch Foreign Minister Visits Paranal

Cover of The Messenger No. 164

8 July 2016 — ann16047

The Messenger No. 164 Now Available

ESO 1-metre telescope

7 July 2016 — ann16046

First Light for FIDEOS

The M2 polishing contract is signed

6 July 2016 — ann16045

ESO Signs Contract to Polish the E-ELT Secondary Mirror

ALMA telescope dishes

1 July 2016 — ann16044

Agreement to Build Band 1 Receivers for ALMA

Prof. Tim de Zeeuw visiting Paranal Observatory

1 July 2016 — ann16043

ESO Council Launches Search for Next Director General

Kuiper Belt's ice cores

30 June 2016 — ann16042

VISTA’s Zoo of Minor Planets

The MASCARA cameras

29 June 2016 — ann16041

New Exoplanet Hunter to be Sited at ESO's La Silla Observatory

ESO Supernova star-roof kissed by Sun

28 June 2016 — ann16040

ESO Supernova Basic Construction Complete

ESO Member States' flags

24 June 2016 — ann16039

ESO and the United Kingdom

24 June 2016 — ann16038

La Silla Observatory Opens for Public Visits during Winter

ESOcast 85: Chile Chill 7 — "Visitors to the Desert"

21 June 2016 — ann16037

ESOcast 85: Chile Chill 7

One of the new MOONS detectors

20 June 2016 — ann16036

ESO Signs Agreement to Build Detectors for MOONS

ALMA Sounds: bringing together artists and astronomers to create a common language

17 June 2016 — ann16035

ALMA Sounds, an Interactive Project to Search for a Common Cosmic Language

Cover of Science in School issue No.36

16 June 2016 — ann16034

Science in School: Issue 36 now available

Cover of the Annual Report 2015

16 June 2016 — ann16033

ESO Annual Report 2015 Now Available

Still image from La Silla video compilation

2 June 2016 — ann16032

New Video Compilation: ESO’s La Silla Telescopes in 2016

ESO Astronomy Camp 2016

31 May 2016 — ann16031

Fourth ESO Astronomy Camp for Secondary School Students

ESOcast 84: The New E-ELT Design Unveiled

25 May 2016 — ann16030

ESOcast 84: The New E-ELT Design Unveiled

Space Scoop comic contest

20 May 2016 — ann16029

Space Scoop Launches Comic Contest

Bird's-eye view of the ELT

18 May 2016 — ann16028

Media Advisory: ESO Press Conference about Largest Ever Contract in Ground-based Astronomy

ESOcast 83: Ultracool Dwarf with Planets

2 May 2016 — ann16027

ESOcast 83 Ultracool Dwarf Planets

A galactic view from the observation deck

22 April 2016 — ann16026

Funding Opportunities in Chile (Anuncio de Oportunidades)

Green light for GALACSI's blue glow

15 April 2016 — ann16025

GALACSI Adaptive Optics System Ready to be Mounted on the VLT

Star-roof lifted into place

12 April 2016 — ann16024

ESO Supernova Star Roof Complete

Paranal sky with comet

5 April 2016 — ann16023

An Infrequent Visitor to the Skies Above Paranal

Johannes Kepler

1 April 2016 — ann16022

Teacher Training on Kepler’s Laws and Modern Astronomy

Cover of The Messenger No. 163

31 March 2016 — ann16021

The Messenger No. 163 Now Available

Auxiliary silhouettes

29 March 2016 — ann16020

NAOMI Contract Signed

Number of papers published using observational data from different observatories

29 March 2016 — ann16019

ESO Remains World’s Most Productive Ground-based Observatory

Cover picture of CAP Journal issue 19

24 March 2016 — ann16018

CAPjournal Rosetta Special Out Now

Bird's-eye view of the ELT

23 March 2016 — ann16017

Planning Starts for MOS and HIRES Instruments on the E-ELT

The VLT four laser guide stars

21 March 2016 — ann16016

Media Advisory: First Light Event for VLT’s Four New Lasers

#MeetESO, ESO’s first social media gathering in Chile

16 March 2016 — ann16015

#MeetESO participants announced

Quadrature - satelliten - the Netherlands

15 March 2016 — ann16014

Winners of art&science@ESO Residency Award 2015 Announced

The LEGO® VLT model against the real Milky Way

14 March 2016 — ann16013

New ESO VLT LEGO® Model

The cover of Science in School issue 35

10 March 2016 — ann16012

Science in School: Issue 35 now available

ESOcast 82: Zodiacal Light

4 March 2016 — ann16011

ESOcast 82: Zodiacal Light

#MeetESO, ESO’s first social media gathering in Chile

15 Feb. 2016 — ann16010

Join ESO’s first social media gathering

The Photo Nightscape Awards poster

12 Feb. 2016 — ann16009

Win a Trip to Paranal with the Photo Nightscape Awards 2016

The APEX telescope and visitors on the occasion of the 10th anniversary

10 Feb. 2016 — ann16008

APEX Celebrates Ten Years Exploring the Cold Universe

Artist’s impression of the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT)

4 Feb. 2016 — ann16007

Major E-ELT Milestone

Flags at ESO Headquarters

1 Feb. 2016 — ann16006

Girls’ Day Event at ESO Headquarters in Garching, Germany

ESOcast 81: Red Sprites

1 Feb. 2016 — ann16005

ESOcast 81: Spirits in the Sky!

1 Feb. 2016 — ann16004

Catch a Star 2016 Contest Now Open

ESOcast 80: Follow a Live Planet Hunt

15 Jan. 2016 — ann16003

ESOcast 80: Follow a Live Planet Hunt!

The Pale Red Dot Campaign

15 Jan. 2016 — ann16002

Follow a Live Planet Hunt!

7 Jan. 2016 — ann16001

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Competition Dates

ESO and CERN sign cooperation agreement

18 Dec. 2015 — ann15098

ESO and CERN Sign Cooperation Agreement

ALMA trilateral agreement signed

18 Dec. 2015 — ann15097

ALMA Trilateral Agreement Signed

Cover of The Messenger No. 162

18 Dec. 2015 — ann15096

The Messenger No. 162 Now Available

Banner of the new Space Scoop webpage

16 Dec. 2015 — ann15095

New Space Scoop Website Launched

Ireland to explore possibility of joining ESO

10 Dec. 2015 — ann15094

Ireland to Explore Possibility of Joining ESO

Agreement signed for E-ELT MAORY adaptive optics system

10 Dec. 2015 — ann15093

Agreement Signed for E-ELT MAORY Adaptive Optics System

ESOcast 79: 20 Years of Exoplanets

8 Dec. 2015 — ann15092

ESOcast 79: 20 Years of Exoplanets

Sebastiaan Haffert wins De Zeeuw–Van Dishoeck Graduation Prize for Astronomy

1 Dec. 2015 — ann15091

De Zeeuw–Van Dishoeck Graduation Prize Awarded to Sebastiaan Haffert

The cover of Science in School issue 34

30 Nov. 2015 — ann15090

Science in School: Issue 34 now available

One of the units of the Four Laser Guide Star Facility for the VLT

27 Nov. 2015 — ann15089

Laser Guide Star Units Accepted and Shipped to Chile

The past, present and future appearances of the Refsdal supernova

25 Nov. 2015 — ann15088

MUSE Observations Enable Prediction of Once-in-a-lifetime Supernova Replay

ALMA expands its power into global interferometry

10 Nov. 2015 — ann15087

ALMA Links with Other Observatories to Create Earth-sized Virtual Telescope

Photo Nightscape Awards 2015

10 Nov. 2015 — ann15086

Winners of Photo Nightscape Award 2015 Announced

GROND image of the gamma-ray burst GRB 151027B

6 Nov. 2015 — ann15085

ESO Telescopes Observe Swift Satellite’s 1000th Gamma-ray Burst

ESOcast 78: Airglow

4 Nov. 2015 — ann15084

ESOcast 78: Airglow Mystery

Ceremony marks excellent progress with ESO Supernova construction

29 Oct. 2015 — ann15083

Ceremony Marks Excellent Progress in Constructing ESO Supernova

Music for a Dying Star

27 Oct. 2015 — ann15082

Listen to the Music of a Dying Star

Ars Electronica Center in Linz, Austria

21 Oct. 2015 — ann15081

ESO Art & Science Residency Applications Open

ESO Astronomy Camp 2015

19 Oct. 2015 — ann15080

Winners of Third ESO Astronomy Camp Bursaries Announced

ESOcast 77: Mysterious Ripples Found Racing Through Planet-forming Disc

7 Oct. 2015 — ann15079

ESOcast 77: Mysterious Ripples Found Racing Through Planet-forming Disc

Early morning on Paranal*

6 Oct. 2015 — ann15078

Astronomy Week at the Chilean ExpoMilan Pavilion

ALMA exhibition opens in Santiago

5 Oct. 2015 — ann15077

ALMA Exhibition Opens in Santiago

10 000th free image uploaded to the ESO image archive

2 Oct. 2015 — ann15076

10 000th Free Image Published in the ESO Image Archive

Cover of CAPjournal issue 18

30 Sept. 2015 — ann15075

CAPjournal Issue 18 Now Available

Rock star and astrophysicist Brian May visits Paranal

30 Sept. 2015 — ann15074

Rock Star and Astrophysicist Brian May Visits Paranal

Agreement signed for METIS instrument for E-ELT

28 Sept. 2015 — ann15073

Agreement Signed for METIS Instrument for E-ELT

2015 European Union Contest for Young Scientists

25 Sept. 2015 — ann15072

Winners of the 2015 European Union Contest for Young Scientists Announced

ESOcast 76: A Polarised View of Stellar Magnetism

25 Sept. 2015 — ann15071

ESOcast 76: A Polarised View of Stellar Magnetism

Agreement signed to build HARMONI spectrograph for the E-ELT

23 Sept. 2015 — ann15070

Agreement Signed for E-ELT HARMONI Instrument

Cover of The Messenger No. 161

22 Sept. 2015 — ann15069

The Messenger No. 161 Now Available

MICADO agreement signed

18 Sept. 2015 — ann15068

Agreement Signed for MICADO Camera for E-ELT

Map of Chile showing location of the earthquake of 16 September 2015

17 Sept. 2015 — ann15067

Earthquake in Chile: No Casualties or Damage at ESO Sites

The cover of Science in School issue 33

17 Sept. 2015 — ann15066

Science in School: Issue 33 now available

ALMA Residencia webcams

11 Sept. 2015 — ann15065

Live Webcams at the ALMA Residencia

ESO and ESA Directors General sign cooperation agreement

24 Aug. 2015 — ann15064

ESO and ESA Directors General Sign Cooperation Agreement

The cover of the 2016 ESO Calendar

20 Aug. 2015 — ann15063

ESO Calendar 2016 Now Available

ESOcast 75: ESO’s Top 10 Discoveries

20 Aug. 2015 — ann15062

ESOcast 75: ESO’s Top 10 Discoveries

GRAVITY: a powerful new probe of black holes

11 Aug. 2015 — ann15061

Powerful New Black Hole Probe Arrives at Paranal

Poland ratifies ESO membership and becomes fifteenth Member State

5 Aug. 2015 — ann15060

Poland Ratifies ESO Membership

Band 5 ALMA receiver

17 July 2015 — ann15059

ALMA Greatly Improves Capacity to Search for Water in Universe

The site of the future Cherenkov Telescope Array

16 July 2015 — ann15058

Paranal Observatory First Choice to Host World’s Largest Array of Gamma-ray Telescopes

Cover of Science in School 32 — Summer 2015

10 July 2015 — ann15057

Science in School: Issue 32 now available

The first E-ELT instruments

10 July 2015 — ann15056

First Instruments for E-ELT Approved

ESO signs contract with Reosc for E-ELT M4 shell mirrors

8 July 2015 — ann15055

ESO Signs Contract for Deformable Shell Mirrors for E-ELT

7 July 2015 — ann15054

Catch a Star 2015 Contest Winners Announced

Cover of The Messenger No. 160

7 July 2015 — ann15053

The Messenger No. 160 Now Available

Cover of the ALMA radioastronomy manual

6 July 2015 — ann15052

ALMA Material for Teachers

A strong showing at Paranal

3 July 2015 — ann15051

Chilean Industry Day in Antofagasta

Cover of CAPjournal issue 17

30 June 2015 — ann15050

CAPjournal Issue 17 Now Available

The 2013 ESO Industry Day in Warsaw, Poland

29 June 2015 — ann15049

Invitation to Polish Industry Day in Warsaw

Art exhibit at ALMA

26 June 2015 — ann15048

Artistic Apparition at ALMA

Professor Michel Mayor, winner of the 2015 Kyoto Prize

25 June 2015 — ann15047

Astrophysicist Michel Mayor Receives Kyoto Prize

Open House Day 2014

22 June 2015 — ann15046

Programme for The Long Night of Science 2015 Available

Contract signed for final design and construction of largest adaptive mirror unit in the world

19 June 2015 — ann15045

Contract Signed for Final Design and Construction of Largest Adaptive Mirror Unit in the World

Cover of the Annual Report 2014

16 June 2015 — ann15044

ESO Annual Report 2014 Now Available

AstroCamera astrophotography competition

15 June 2015 — ann15043

AstroCamera 2015 Winners Announced

RAPID: A high-speed infrared detector

15 June 2015 — ann15042

Revolutionary New High-speed Infrared Detector Sees First Light

The MUSE instrument on the VLT: equipped with 24 continuous flow cooling systems

9 June 2015 — ann15041

ESO Signs Technology Transfer Licence Agreement for Cooling System

"From Earth to the Universe" movie poster

9 June 2015 — ann15040

First Free Downloadable Planetarium Show

Screenshot of the Chilean President Michelle Bachelet video conference with Paranal Observatory from Expo Milano 2015

8 June 2015 — ann15039

ESO at Expo Milano 2015

ESO Astronomy Camp 2015

25 May 2015 — ann15038

Third ESO Astronomy Camp for Secondary School Students

Laser frequency comb installed on HARPS

22 May 2015 — ann15037

HARPS Laser Frequency Comb Commissioned

Open House Day 2015

20 May 2015 — ann15036

Open House at ESO for the Long Night of Science

Breakdown of ALMA Cycle 3 proposals by category

8 May 2015 — ann15035

ALMA Cycle 3 Call for Proposals Attracts Record Number of Proposals

First light of new laser on Adaptive Optics Facility at Paranal

8 May 2015 — ann15034

First Light of New Laser at Paranal

ESO’s Director General meets EAO Directors

4 May 2015 — ann15033

ESO and East Asian Observatory Meet for First Time

ESOcast 74: Mapping the Southern Skies

30 April 2015 — ann15032

ESOcast 74: Mapping the Southern Skies

Julien Milli, first recipient of the Olivier Chesneau Prize

29 April 2015 — ann15031

2015 Olivier Chesneau Prize Awarded to Julien Milli

The Moon sets over Paranal

27 April 2015 — ann15030

Funding Opportunities in Chile (Anuncio de Oportunidades)

ALMA image of the gravitationally lensed galaxy SDP.81

7 April 2015 — ann15028

ALMA at Full Stretch Yields Spectacular Images

Donor of the planetarium and visitor centre

31 March 2015 — ann15029

Klaus Tschira, 1940–2015

360-degree panorama of the ESO Headquarters

27 March 2015 — ann15027

Spanish Industry Day at ESO

26 March 2015 — ann15026

ESO Now Delivers Videos and Fulldome Material Faster

Extreme weather at ALMA 27.2.2015

25 March 2015 — ann15025

Storm Affecting the North-Central Chile

Cover of The Messenger No. 159

24 March 2015 — ann15024

The Messenger No. 159 Now Available

Girls' Day Event at ESO Headquarters in 2014

19 March 2015 — ann15023

Girls’ Day Event at ESO Headquarters in Garching, Germany

ESOcast 73: Chile Chill 6 — "Your ESO Pictures"

19 March 2015 — ann15022

ESOcast 73 — Your ESO Pictures

Artist María Ignacia Edwards in her studio

17 March 2015 — ann15021

Winner of ESO Art & Science Residency Announced

The ALMA Operations Support Facility

17 March 2015 — ann15020

ALMA Opens For Public Visits

Cover of Science in School 31 — Spring 2015

13 March 2015 — ann15019

Science in School: Issue 31 now available

The constellation of Cassiopeia over a thunderstorm

11 March 2015 — ann15018

Astrocamera 2015 Competition Open for Entries

Photo Nightscape Awards 2015

6 March 2015 — ann15017

Win a Trip to Paranal with the Photo Nightscape Awards 2015

Information event at the Garching Forschungscampus

6 March 2015 — ann15016

Discover the ESO Supernova

ALMA Performs Its First Very Long Baseline Observations

5 March 2015 — ann15015

ALMA Performs Its First Very Long Baseline Observations

Number of papers published using observational data from different observatories

5 March 2015 — ann15014

ESO Remains World’s Most Productive Ground-based Observatory

Unveiling ceremony for plaque commemorating the signing of the Leiden Statement

4 March 2015 — ann15013

Plaque Commemorating Leiden Statement Unveiled

ESOcast 72: Looking Deeply into the Universe in 3D

26 Feb. 2015 — ann15012

ESOcast 72: Looking Deeply into the Universe in 3D

Artist’s impression of ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre

24 Feb. 2015 — ann15011

Groundbreaking Ceremony for ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre

Testing laser guide star systems on Tenerife

10 Feb. 2015 — ann15010

First Light for Laser Guide Star Technology Collaboration

ESO’s Facebook page welcomes its 100 000th friend

10 Feb. 2015 — ann15009

Thank You, 100 000 Facebook Friends!

The Gum 15 star formation region

4 Feb. 2015 — ann15008

Teacher Training on Stellar Evolution

Louise Mayor wins the 2014 European Astronomy Journalism Prize

2 Feb. 2015 — ann15007

2014 European Astronomy Journalism Prize Winner Announced

The new planetarium and visitor centre at ESO Headquarters

26 Jan. 2015 — ann15006

Media Advisory: Groundbreaking Ceremony for the ESO Supernova

New high-speed fibre optic data link to ALMA

20 Jan. 2015 — ann15005

New High-speed Fibre Optic Data Link to ALMA

ALMA Residencia: general view of the array of buildings

16 Jan. 2015 — ann15004

ALMA Residencia Construction to Start

E-ELT primary mirror prototype segment support systems

16 Jan. 2015 — ann15003

ESO Awards Contracts for E-ELT Primary Mirror Segment Support System Units

ESOcast 71: New Exoplanet-hunting Telescopes on Paranal

14 Jan. 2015 — ann15002

ESOcast 71: New Exoplanet-hunting Telescopes on Paranal

360-degree panorama of the ESO Headquarters

9 Jan. 2015 — ann15001

ESO Hosts Workshop on Public Awareness of Research Infrastructures

Cover of The Messenger No. 158

15 Dec. 2014 — ann14093

The Messenger No. 158 Now Available

Cover of CAPjournal issue 16

4 Dec. 2014 — ann14092

CAPjournal Issue 16 Now Available

ESOcast 70: Green Light for E-ELT Construction

4 Dec. 2014 — ann14091

ESOcast 70 — Green Light for E-ELT Construction

Connect with ESO in your language

1 Dec. 2014 — ann14090

Connect with ESO in your Language

28 Nov. 2014 — ann14089

Catch a Star 2015 Contest Now Open

Journey to the centre of the Milky Way

26 Nov. 2014 — ann14088

Journey to the Centre of the Milky Way

Tim de Zeeuw receives honorary degree from University of Padova

25 Nov. 2014 — ann14087

Tim de Zeeuw Receives Honorary Degree

Ulrike Kuchner and astronomical spectra

18 Nov. 2014 — ann14086

Astronomical Art in Santiago

ESO Astronomy Camp 2014 — Measuring the Universe

14 Nov. 2014 — ann14085

Winners of Second ESO Astronomy Camp Bursaries Announced

Members of the teams that won the 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

11 Nov. 2014 — ann14084

ESO Staff Share 2015 Breakthrough Prize

ESOcast 69: Revolutionary ALMA Image Reveals Planetary Genesis

6 Nov. 2014 — ann14083

ESOcast 69: Revolutionary ALMA Image Reveals Planetary Genesis

ESOcast 68: ESO Opens its Doors

24 Oct. 2014 — ann14082

ESOcast 68: ESO Opens its Doors

Cover of ESO Calendar 2015

24 Oct. 2014 — ann14081

ESO Calendar 2015 Now Available

Screenshot of the new homepage

21 Oct. 2014 — ann14080

ESO Web Pages Redesigned

The winning entry of the 2014 Photo Nightscape Award

16 Oct. 2014 — ann14079

Winners of Photo Nightscape Award 2014 Announced

Olivier Chesneau Prize established

16 Oct. 2014 — ann14078

Olivier Chesneau Prize Established

Cover of Science in School 30 — Autumn 2014

14 Oct. 2014 — ann14077

Science in School: Issue 30 now available

Cover of The Messenger No. 157

9 Oct. 2014 — ann14076

The Messenger No. 157 Now Available

ESO Headquarters

8 Oct. 2014 — ann14075

Tools, best practices and methodologies for Technology Transfer

Reopening ceremony for ESO exhibition a window to the Universe

8 Oct. 2014 — ann14074

ESO Exhibition A Window to the Universe Reopened in Antofagasta

Open House Day 2014

7 Oct. 2014 — ann14073

Programme: Open House Day 2014

20 December 2017 — eso1741a

ESOcast 144 Light: Giant Bubbles on Red Giant Star’s Surface (4K UHD)

Picture of the Week

Season’s Greetings from the European Southern Observatory!

18 December 2017 — potw1751

Season’s Greetings from the European Southern Observatory!

Supermoon at La Silla

11 December 2017 — potw1750

Supermoon at La Silla

VLT’s SPHERE spies rocky worlds

4 December 2017 — potw1749

VLT’s SPHERE spies rocky worlds

The Planetarium and the Sun Pillar

27 November 2017 — potw1748

The Planetarium and the Sun Pillar

MUSE spies accreting giant structure around a quasar

20 November 2017 — potw1747

MUSE spies accreting giant structure around a quasar

A gigantic cosmic bubble

13 November 2017 — potw1746

A gigantic cosmic bubble

Cocooned on Cerro Paranal

6 November 2017 — potw1745

Cocooned on Cerro Paranal

Antares overlooking an Auxiliary Telescope

30 October 2017 — potw1744

Antares overlooking an Auxiliary Telescope

ESO Open House Day 2017

23 October 2017 — potw1743

ESO Open House Day 2017

Caught in a Dust Trap

16 October 2017 — potw1742

Caught in a Dust Trap

Highlights

ESO on Instagram

Big Science Business Forum

Portal to the Universe

ESOShop

Wind Tunnel Tests: Preparing the ELT for Mountain Life

Wind Tunnel Tests: Preparing the ELT for Mountain Life

Author: Stefano Mian
Author: Daniele Rocchi
Author: Luca Ronchi

15 December 2017

Protecting the Extremely Large Telescope from Earthquakes

Protecting the Extremely Large Telescope from Earthquakes

ESO engineer Max Kraus tell us about newly-developed seismic technology

Interview with: Max Kraus

12 December 2017

Brown Dwarf Formation Hints at Billions of New Neighbours

Brown Dwarf Formation Hints at Billions of New Neighbours

Astronomer Koraljka Muzic tells her story of discovery

Interview with: Koraljka Muzic

1 December 2017

Science Snapshots

Discovering the First Interstellar Asteroid

Discovering the First Interstellar Asteroid

Olivier Hainaut tells us about a visitor from outside our Solar System

Interview with: Olivier Hainaut

24 November 2017

Science Snapshots

Rocking Out With A Heavy Metal Planet

Rocking Out With A Heavy Metal Planet

Eike Guenther on the evolving study of planetary origins

Interview with: Eike Guenther

17 November 2017

Science Snapshots

Creating the First Open-Source Planetarium in the World

Creating the First Open-Source Planetarium in the World

A conversation with ESO Supernova Coordinator Tania Johnston

Interview with: Tania Johnston

10 November 2017

Next-generation Lasers Shine Spotlight On Classical Physics

Next-generation Lasers Shine Spotlight On Classical Physics

A conversation with ESO Fellow Frédéric Vogt

Interview with: Frédéric Vogt

3 November 2017

Science Snapshots

How to build a giant telescope

How to build a giant telescope

A conversation with Roberto Tamai, the ELT Programme Manager

Interview with: Roberto Tamai

27 October 2017

The makings of the ground-breaking gravitational waves discovery

The makings of the ground-breaking gravitational waves discovery

The scientists behind the telescopes tell their stories

Interview with: Stephen Smartt and Stefano Covino

20 October 2017

Science Snapshots

Homage to the ESO Member States

Homage to the ESO Member States

Author: Xavier Barcons

13 October 2017

Letters from the DG

The Very Large Telescope snaps a stellar nursery and celebrates fifteen years of operations

The Very Large Telescope snaps a stellar nursery and celebrates fifteen years of operations

Stellar Nursery Blooms into View

Stellar Nursery Blooms into View

Thor’s Helmet Nebula imaged on the occasion of ESO’s 50th anniversary

Thor’s Helmet Nebula imaged on the occasion of ESO’s 50th anniversary

VLT looks into the eyes of the Virgin

VLT looks into the eyes of the Virgin

A 340-million pixel starscape from Paranal

A 340-million pixel starscape from Paranal

The Helix Nebula*

The Helix Nebula*

The centre of the Milky Way*

The centre of the Milky Way*

The Horsehead Nebula*

The Horsehead Nebula*

A deep infrared view of the Orion Nebula from HAWK-I

A deep infrared view of the Orion Nebula from HAWK-I

The Carina Nebula imaged by the VLT Survey Telescope

The Carina Nebula imaged by the VLT Survey Telescope

A deep look at the strange galaxy Centaurus A

A deep look at the strange galaxy Centaurus A

ESO’s VLT reveals the Carina Nebula's hidden secrets

ESO’s VLT reveals the Carina Nebula's hidden secrets

VST image of the star-forming region Messier 17

VST image of the star-forming region Messier 17

VST image of the giant globular cluster Omega Centauri*

VST image of the giant globular cluster Omega Centauri*

Messier 78: a reflection nebula in Orion

Messier 78: a reflection nebula in Orion

2M1207b - first image of an exoplanet

2M1207b - first image of an exoplanet

The hidden fires of the Flame Nebula*

The hidden fires of the Flame Nebula*

The Milky Way panorama

The Milky Way panorama

The Omega Nebula

The Omega Nebula

NGC 2264 and the Christmas Tree cluster*

NGC 2264 and the Christmas Tree cluster*

The World’s Biggest Eye on the Sky

In search of our Cosmic Origins

The world’s most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory

ESO’s first observatory

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