Science Users Information

These pages are aimed at ESO community astronomers and contain all the information required in order to prepare, execute, process and exploit observations with ESO facilities. They also provide information on the scientific activities taking place at ESO. Details can be accessed via the navigation menu.


ESO Science Announcements

Astronomers are Encouraged to Use Adaptive Optics in MUSE Wide Field Mode

Published: 12 Feb 2025

Thanks to a highly successful suite of instruments, the demand on usage of one of VLT Unit Telescope (UT4) has remained high in recent years. ESO has taken several actions to alleviate the situation, including the second generation deformable secondary mirror Phase A study. In parallel, a careful monitoring of operations at the telescope indicates that a large fraction of the telescope time observing with MUSE is spent with MUSE Wide Field Mode without Adaptive Optics, (NOAO). While the NOAO mode is essential for programmes gathering information over the 582-597 nm wavelength which is otherwise blocked by the Na Notch filter, the benefits of AO are many-fold. Not only the operations at the telescope are routine, but importantly seeing is improved in any observing conditions (bad seeing, light cirrus, high wind speed) while proven to be more stable during long exposure times.

Third Data Release from ESSENCE Project

Published: 10 Feb 2025

The third data release (DR3) of the ESSENCE project contains all VLT/FORS1 spectra taken over the period 2002-2006. It contains and expands on the previous data release (DR2, from 2014), which contained 54 spectra of 50 individual objects. The present release contains 184 spectra of 168 individual objects, of which 79 high-redshift Type Ia supernovae that were the main target of this project. More information about the programme can be found in the accompanying documentation.

First Release of Spectra from the ENTROPY Project - Young Planets Observed with UVES

Published: 08 Jan 2025

The ExoplaNeT accRetion mOnitoring sPectroscopic surveY (ENTROPY) aims at investigating into the until now poorly understood process of accretion among planetary mass companions. The detection of emission lines from accreting gas giants facilitates detailed investigations into this process. The data released via this collection are the high-resolution (R ∼ 50000), stacked, flux-calibrated 1D spectra obtained with the Echelle spectrograph UVES (3200–6800 Å) of the few known young, planetary-mass objects with observed emission.

Release of the VIRAC Version2 Catalogues from the VVV and VVVX Surveys

Published: 23 Dec 2024

ESO is pleased to announce the public release of the VVV Infrared Astrometric Catalogues (VIRAC) Version 2. The catalogues are based on data from the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) Survey and its extension, VVVX, and offer unprecedented precision in astrometric and depth.

Message from the Director General

Published: 19 Dec 2024

Dear colleagues,

From several viewpoints, 2024 was a year when ESO started to move towards new future avenues, while running very strong on its current commitments.

The Messenger

The Messenger 193 is now available. Highlights include:

  • Bonaldi, A., Zwaan, M. et al.: SKAO, SKA Precursors/pathfinders and ESO Facilities
  • Breen, S., Schödel, R. et al.: ESO–SKAO Coordinated Surveys: the Galaxy
  • Prandoni, I., Sargent, M. et al.: An ESO–SKAO Synergistic Approach to Galaxy Formation and Evolution Studies
  • Santos, M., Camera, S. et al.: Cosmology with ESO–SKAO Synergies
  • Mesinger, A., Ciardi, B. et al.: ESO–SKAO Synergies for the Epoch of Reionisation and Cosmic Dawn
  • Patat, F., Leibundgut, B. et al.: Yearly Call and Fast Track Channel at ESO

The ESO Science Newsletter

The December 2024 issue is now available.

The ESO Science Newsletter, mailed approximately once per month, presents the most recent announcements. Subscription is controlled through the Manage Profile link on the User Portal. Back issues (2013-) are archived.


Citing ESO data in research papers

Researchers are kindly asked to indicate the identifiers (programme IDs or Data DOIs) of the (new or archival) observations they used in their papers as explained in ESO’s data citation policy. This enables the telbib curators to cross-link research output to make data Findabie, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable as suggested by the FAIR Principles.  


Pitch Your Research to ESO COMM

Are you an author on an upcoming scientific study based on ESO data that could be relevant to journalists or the wider public? Or are you a Principal Investigator on ESO observations with potential to become stunning images? If so, please consider sending to ESO your paper and/or a preview of the image(s) obtained with ESO telescopes.