ESO PR Video 18a/06: 1 min 41 sec
[320 x 240 - Quicktime - 16MB]

ESO PR Video 18b/06: 1 min 08 sec
[320 x 240 - Quicktime - 8MB]

ESO Video 18a/06 shows three computer animations. The first two ones are an artist impression of how the planetary system surrounding the nearby star HD 69830 may look like. The HARPS measurement indeed reveal the presence of three planets with masses between 10 and 18 Earth masses. The planets' mean distance are 0.08, 0.19, and 0.63 the mean distance between the Earth and the Sun. They orbit their parent star in 8.67, 31.6 and 197 days, respectively. From previous observations, it seems that there exists also an asteroid belt, whose location is unknown. It could either lie between the two outermost planets, or farther from its parent star than 0.8 the mean Earth-Sun distance. The second animation illustrates the system, seen from inside the asteroid belt, which is assumed here to lie between the two outermost planets. The third animation illustrates the method used to detect the planets. A planet in orbit around a star will manifest its presence by pulling the star in different directions, thereby changing by rather small amounts its measured velocity. Here, the observer is assumed to be sitting at the right of the image. Using highly accurate spectrographs, like HARPS on the 3.6-m ESO telescope, astronomers therefore measure with the velocity of a star to detect the signature of one or more planets. The amplitude of the shifts provide astronomers with information on the mass of the planets.

For more information have a look at http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2006/pr-18-06.html

ESO PR Video 07a/06: 5 min 02 sec

Scientists celebrate another major milestone at Cerro Paranal in Chile, home of ESO's Very Large Telescope array. Thanks to their dedicated efforts, they were able to create the first artificial star in the Southern Hemisphere, allowing astronomers to study the Universe in the finest detail. This artificial laser guide star makes it possible to apply adaptive optics systems, that counteract the blurring effect of the atmosphere, almost anywhere in the sky.

For more information have a look at http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2006/pr-07-06.html

ESO PR Video 03a/06: 3 min 30 sec

Astronomers discovered a new extrasolar planet significantly more Earth-like than any other planet found so far. The planet, which is only about 5 times as massive as the Earth, circles its parent star in about 10 years. The planet most certainly has a rocky/icy surface. Its discovery marks a groundbreaking result in the search for planets that support life.

For more information have a look at http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2006/pr-03-06.html

ESO PR Video 01/05

The Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) at Paranal Observatory has just seen another extension of its already impressive capabilities by combining interferometrically the light from two relocatable 1.8-m Auxiliary Telescopes. Following the installation of the first Auxiliary Telescope (AT) in January 2004 the second AT arrived at the VLT platform by the end of 2004. Shortly thereafter, during the night of February 2 to 3, 2005, the two high-tech telescopes teamed up and quickly succeeded in performing interferometric observations. This achievement heralds an era of new scientific discoveries. Both Auxiliary Telescopes will be offered from October 1, 2005 to the community of astronomers for routine observations, together with the MIDI instrument.

For more information have a look at http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2005/pr-06-05.html

ESO Video Clip 01/04

Another advanced astronomical telescope has just been installed at the Paranal Observatory, located in the heart of the Chilean Atacama Desert and home of the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT). The new telescope, known as Auxiliary Telescope no. 1 (AT1), forms part of the VLT Interferometer (VLTI). It has a main mirror of 1.8-m diameter and is installed in a compact dome. In contrast to the four giant 8.2-m telescopes and, indeed, to any other telescope in the world of this size, it can be moved along a system of railway tracks on the top of the Paranal mountain. It sends the captured light from celestial objects into the subterranean Interferometric Tunnel from where it is directed to the central Interferometric Laboratory.

For more information have a look at http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2004/pr-01-04.html

ESO Video News Reel no. 13 ("First Light" NAOS-CONICA) is issued on December 4, 2001, in conjunction with the "First Light" event, described in ESO PR 25/01. It is comprised of fully edited A-Roll, with a duration of 5:19 min, and a B-Roll with supplementary footage. The duration of the entire production is 13:00 min. The A-roll contains split audio with original sound, but no guide track, but is accompanied by a written, suggested narration.

The A-roll begins with a late-afternoon view of the VLT observing platform on the top of the Paranal mountain, then provides a look from the VLT control room. A short animation of the Hubble Space Telescope (for comparison) is followed by an animation illustrating how 'adaptive optics' is able to correct the image distortion induced by atmospheric turbulence.

Following this is footage from the night of "First Light" showing the exciting moment as the instrument is used for the first time. This is followed by astronomical images obtained during the first observing run.

First, for comparison, a picture obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope is shown, then the same object observed with NAOS/CONICA on the VLT. After this follows an observation of the core of the famous 30 Doradus Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud and finally a view of the region around the Becklin-Neugebauer object in the Orion star-forming region.

Following a short statement by Prof. Guy Monnet, Head of the ESO Instrumentation Division, at the moment of "First Light", the A-roll is completed with evening shots of the VLT on Paranal.

The B-Roll contains additional "First Light" astronomical images, footage from the instrument test phase in Paris, prior to shipment to the Paranal Observatory, and longer statements by Dr Nobert Hubin, Head of the ESO Adaptive Optics Group, on the astronomical importance of adaptive optics systems, the technical gain, applications in other fields as well as collaboration and partnership aspects.

Extract from ESO Video News Reel no. 12

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[MPEG/Video+Audio; 320x240 pix; 2600 frames; 01:44 min; 13.7Mb]
[RealMedia; streaming; 160x120 pix]
[RealMedia; streaming; 320x240 pix]

ESO Video News Reel No. 12
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ESO Video News Reel no. 12 ("First Light for the VLT Interferometer") is published on March 18, 2001. It is issued in conjunction with the important achievement of "First Fringes", cf. ESO PR 06/01. It begins with a general view of the observing platform on the top of the Paranal mountain, with the enclosures for the four large VLT Unit Telescopes and some of the 30 "stations" for the VLTI Auxiliary Telescopes. Statement by the Manager of the VLT project, Massimo Tarenghi. Two computer animations of the principle of the VLT Interferometer; the first with all seven telescopes and the second showing the concept of the Delay Lines that serve to equalize the light paths from the telescopes to the common focus. One of the VLTI test telescopes ("siderostats") is being readied for observations. The Delay Line carriages in the long Interferometric Tunnel under the telescopes move. The VINCI instrument in the Interferometric Laboratory is adjusted. Platform at sunset, before the observations. the astronomers and technicians prepare for the first observations in the VLTI Control Room in the Interferometric Building. "Interferometric Fringes" appear on the computer screen. Statements by Andreas Glindemann, VLTI Project Leader, and Massimo Tarenghi. Distant view of the installations at Paranal at sunset (on March 1, 2001). Total duration of VLR No. 12 is about 6:30 min.

Frame from ESO Video News Reel no. 11

ESO Video News Reel No. 11
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ESO Video News Reel no. 11 ("Videosequences of Astronomical Images") is published on March 1, 2001. It contains video views (stills, zooms) of approx. 30 of the most impressive astronomical images that were obtained during the past few years at ESO. Total duration of VLR No. 11 is about 22:00 min.

Frame from ESO Video News Reel no. 10

ESO Video News Reel No. 10
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ESO Video News Reel no. 10 ("Videosequences of the Very Large Telescope") is published on March 1, 2001. It contains some of best sequences obtained during the past few years. Total duration of VLR No. 10 is about 60:00 min.