Austrian and Portuguese Ministers for Science visit Paranal

The Federal Minister for Science and Research of Austria, Karlheinz Töchterle, and the Minister for Science and Education of Portugal, Nuno Crato, visited ESO’s Paranal Observatory on 15 March 2013, as part of their official visits to Chile. The ministers and their delegations were hosted by ESO's Director General, Tim de Zeeuw.

At night, the ministers took part in an informal star party with staff of the observatory, enjoying the view of some objects in the southern night sky through a large amateur telescope. This picture captures the observing activities against the spectacular night sky of Paranal.