The Science Users Portal contains scientific and technical information for professional astronomers.

Science Users Information

These pages are aimed at the ESO community astronomers; they contain all the information required in order to prepare, execute, process and exploit observations with the ESO facilities. They also contain information on the scientific activities taking place at ESO.


The side menu will take you directly to the relevant pages:

  • Observing Facilities links to La Silla Paranal Observatory and to the technical pages for the instruments and telescopes available at the two sites. Also you will find information on instrument development.
  • Observing Information points to information needed at every stage of preparing a proposal for observing time - from the proposal preparation to submission - and for planning the observations in Visitor or Service Mode. In addition, you will find here information on observing policies and procedures and on observing time allocation.
  • Via ESO Scientific Software and Tools you have access to a collection of ESO-supported software products for data reduction and analysis and to Scisoft, a project within ESO to provide a collection of astronomical software utilities. You will also find various useful tools and services for Phase 1 and Phase 2 preparation, like archives and catalogues, ETCs, weather information, and more.
  • Data Handling and Products gives information on post-observing services provided by ESO. This includes quality control and data processing, information on data pipelines and instrument calibration.
  • Science Archive Facility provides information and access to the ESO/ST-ECF Science Archive Facility and the European Virtual Observatory.
  • Science Activities provides information about research done at ESO, including science verification programmes of ESO instruments.

Further you will find details about Scientific Meetings, IT Services, the ESO Library, Publications and Job Opportunities.

Announcements


The Messenger

The Messenger No. 147 is now available. Selected Highlights are:

  • R. Bacon et al.: News of the MUSE
  • D. Schwan et al.: APEX-SZ The Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Instrument
  • N. Lützgendorf et al.: The Search for Intermediate-mass Black Holes in Globular Clusters
  • G. Gilmore et al.: The Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey

You can subscribe to the hardcopy of The Messenger or browse the complete archive of issues.


The ESO Electronic Newsletter

Number 21 (March 2012)
is available.
You can also subscribe to the Newletter or browse the archive.