Messenger No. 150 (December 2012)

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ESO 50th Anniversary

2-2 (PDF)
T. de Zeeuw
A Milestone for The Messenger in ESO’s 50th Anniversary Year

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150....2Z
Section:
ESO 50th Anniversary
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
de Zeeuw, T.
AA(ESO)
3-6 (PDF)
L. Woltjer, H. van der Laan et al.
Reflections from Past Directors General

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150....35
Section:
ESO 50th Anniversary
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Woltjer, L.; van der Laan, H.; Giacconi, R.; Cesarsky, C.
AA(Observatoire de Haute-Provence, Saint-Michel l’Observatoire, France) AB(Astronomical Institute Utrecht, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands) AC(Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA) AD(CEA Saclay, Gif sur Yvette, France)
7-15 (PDF)
R. Sirey
ESO 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150....7S
Section:
ESO 50th Anniversary
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Sirey, R.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
To formally mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the ESO Convention, a gala dinner was held in the Munich Residenz. A brief report of the event is presented and the speeches are reproduced. The speakers were the President of the Council, Xavier Barcons; the German Minister for Education and Research, Prof. Dr Annette Schavan; the Bavarian State Minister for Science, Research and the Arts, Dr Wolfgang Heubisch; physics Nobel Laureate, Brian Schmidt; the current Director General, Tim de Zeeuw and the Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfredo Moreno Charme.

Telescopes and Instrumentation

17-20 (PDF)
F. Patat, G. Hussain
Growth of Observing Programmes at ESO

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...17P
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Patat, F.; Hussain, G.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO)
Abstract:
There has been a continuous growth in applications for ESO telescopes from the first calls for proposals in the late 1960s. Typically one thousand applications are now received per semester involving over 3000 astronomers worldwide. A brief history of the evolution of the allocation process is presented and a snapshot of the current procedures is given.
References:
Breysacher, J. & Waelkens, C. 2001, in Organizations and Strategies in Astronomy — Vol.2 (OSA2), ed. A. Heck, Kluwer, 149; Brinks, E. & Leibundgut, B. 2012, OPC Working Group Report. ESO Patat, F. & Hussain, G. A. J. 2012, in Organizations People and Strategies in Astronomy — Vol. 2 (OPSA2), ed. A. Heck, in press Silva, D. 2001, The Messenger, 105, 18
20-25 (PDF)
E. Brinks, B. Leibundgut et al.
Report of the ESO OPC Working Group

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...20B
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Brinks, E.; Leibundgut, B.; Mathys, G.
AA(Centre for Astrophysics, University of Hertfordshire, UK) AB(ESO) AC(ESO; Joint ALMA Observatory, Chile)
Abstract:
With over 1000 proposals per semester for ESO telescopes, the community is facing the problem of fair and robust selection of observing programmes. We report here on a working group to investigate the current selection process and procedures and identify possible improvements. The working group report summarises the current process, based on peer review, that has been in use for many years at ESO and other comparable ground- and space-based observatories, and presents an inventory of the changes and approaches that may be considered to make the process more manageable and less time-consuming, while at the same time preserving its integrity. The working group presented several recommendations, which have been discussed with ESO committees and analysed by the operational groups at ESO.
References:
Hodgson, C. 1997, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 50, 1189; Merrifield, M. R. & Saari, D. G. 2009, Astron & Geophys, 50, 4.16 (arXiv:0906.1943) Patat, F. & Hussain, G. A. J. 2012, in Organizations People and Strategies in Astronomy — Vol. 2 (OPSA2), ed. A. Heck, in press Royal Society, 1995, Peer Review — An assessment of recent developments.
26-29 (PDF)
R. Schödel, J. H. Girard
Holographic Imaging: A Versatile Tool for High Angular Resolution Imaging

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...26S
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Schödel, R.; Girard, J. H.
AA(Instituto Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), Granada, Spain) AB(ESO)
Abstract:
Speckle holography can be used to reconstruct high angular resolution images from long series of short exposures if the point spread function (PSF) from each frame can be measured reliably. We show that through use of multiple reference stars and iterative PSF subtraction, we can obtain highly accurate PSFs. The technique is optimised for crowded fields and results in images with excellent cosmetics and high Strehl ratio from the optical to the mid-infrared regimes. With examples from NACO, VISIR, and HAWK-I we show that holography opens up novel and unforeseen possibilities and can be an attractive alternative to adaptive optics.
References:
Doucet, C. et al. 2006, in Visions for Infrared Astronomy, Instrumentation, Mesure, Métrologie, ed. V. Coudé du Foresto, D. Rouan, & G. Rousset, 25; Eckart, A. & Genzel, R. 1996, Nature, 383, 415; Finger, G. et al. 2010, SPIE Conference Series, 7742; Girard, J. et al. 2010, SPIE Conference Series, 7742; Kenworthy, M. et al. 2010, The Messenger, 141, 2; Lacour, S. et al. 2011, The Messenger, 146, 18; Lenzen, R. et al. 2003, SPIE Conference Series, 4841, ed. M. Iye & A. F. M. Moorwood, 944; Primot, J. et al. 1990, Journal of the Optical Society of America A, 7, 1598; Rousset, G. et al. 2003, SPIE Conference Series, 4839, ed. P. L. Wizinowich & D. Bonaccini, 140; Schödel, R. et al. 2012, MNRAS, in press (arXiv1110.2261) Sivaramakrishnan, A. et al. 2003, SPIE Conference Series, 4860, ed. A. B. Schultz, 161
30-32 (PDF)
H. Kuntschner, M. Kümmel et al.
The ESO 3D Visualisation Tool

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...30K
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Kuntschner, H.; Kümmel, M.; Westmoquette, M.; Ballester, P.; Pasquini, L.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO) AE(ESO)
Abstract:
The ESO 3D visualisation tool provides the capability for visualisation and basic scientific exploitation of 3D spectroscopic datasets obtained with VLT integral field unit instrumentation, including MUSE. The tool was implemented as part of the ALMA CASA software viewer and as such provides the opportunity to view ALMA data as well as VLT 3D data within the same tool. Recently, the first version of the visualisation tool, featuring optical and near-infrared spectroscopic capabilities, has been completed and we describe the released software which is available for Mac OS X and Linux systems.
References:
Bacon, R. 2006, The Messenger, 124, 5; Bacon, R. et al. 2012, The Messenger, 147, 4; Beuzit, J.-L. et al. 2006, The Messenger, 125, 29; Campbell, R., Kjær, K. & Amico, P. 2012, The Messenger, 148, 28; Calabretta, M. R. & Greisen, E. W. 2002, A&A, 395, 1077; ESO, 2012. FITS format description for pipeline products with data, error and data quality information, VLT-SPE-ESO-19500-5667 Greisen, E. W. et al. 2006, A&A, 446, 747; Kasper, M. et al. 2012, The Messenger, 149, 17

Astronomical Science

34-38 (PDF)
C. Baltay, D. Rabinowitz et al.
The La Silla–QUEST Southern Hemisphere Variability Survey

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...34B
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Baltay, C.; Rabinowitz, D.; Hadjiyska, E.; Schwamb, M.; Ellman, N.; Zinn, R.; Tourtellotte, S.; McKinnon, R.; Horowitz, B.; Effron, A.; Nugent, P.
AA(Physics Department, Yale University, USA) AB(Physics Department, Yale University, USA) AC(Physics Department, Yale University, USA) AD(Physics Department, Yale University, USA) AE(Physics Department, Yale University, USA) AF(Astronomy Department, Yale University, USA) AG(Astronomy Department, Yale University, USA) AH(Physics Department, Yale University, USA) AI(Physics Department, Yale University, USA) AJ(Physics Department, Yale University, USA) AK(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA)
Abstract:
In 2009, the ESO 1.0-metre Schmidt telescope at La Silla was awakened from an 11-year slumber. The telescope had been decommissioned in 1998 after completing a photographic survey of the southern hemisphere. It has now been given a new life with the installation of Yale University’s 160-megapixel QUEST camera consisting of a 112-CCD mosaic covering 10 square degrees. The control system for the telescope was also upgraded to allow fully autonomous observing. With the new system, Yale is conducting the La Silla–QUEST (LSQ) Variability Survey in the Southern Hemisphere to detect low-redshift supernovae, RR Lyrae variable stars, Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs), and other unusual transients. The LSQ variability survey has already covered most of the southern hemisphere multiple times at cadences ranging from hours to years and to a depth ranging from R magnitudes 20.5 to 21.5. To date the survey has detected more than 65 new KBOs and thousands of new RR Lyrae stars. The detection of hundreds of supernovae will lead to an improved measurement of the accelerated expansion rate of the Universe.
References:
Baltay, C. et al. 2007, PASP, 119, 1278; Barucci, M. et al. 2008, in The Solar System Beyond Neptune, ed. M. Barruci, H. et al., Univ. Arizona Press, 275; Bauer, A. et al. 2012, ApJ, 749, 56; Brown, M. 2008, in The Solar System Beyond Neptune, ed. M. Barruci et al., Univ. Arizona Press, 335; Hadjiyska, E. et al. 2012, Proc. IAU, 285, 324; Kerschhaggl, M. et al. 2011, PrPNP, 66, 335; Morbidelli, A., Levison, H. & Gomes, R. 2008, in The Solar System Beyond Neptune, ed. M. Barruci, et al., Univ. Arizona Press, 275; Perlmutter, S. et al. 1999, ApJ, 517, 565; Rabinowitz, D. et al. 2012, AJ, 144, 140; Riess, A. et al. 1998, AJ, 116, 1009; Vivas, A. et al. 2008, AJ, 136, 1645
39-43 (PDF)
A. Lagrange, G. Chauvin
β Pictoris, a Laboratory for Planetary Formation Studies

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...39L
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Lagrange, A.; Chauvin, G.
AA(Institut de Planétologie et d’astrophysique de Grenoble, France) AB(Institut de Planétologie et d’astrophysique de Grenoble, France)
Abstract:
Shortly after its discovery in 1984, the Beta Pictoris disc was recognised as a possible site of past, ongoing or future planet formation. It has since been observed extensively, from the X-ray domain to centimetre wavelengths by many ground- and space-based telescopes. The disc has become a remote laboratory to study the physical and chemical characteristics of debris discs. Recently, we were able to detect a companion orbiting the star at a distance comparable to that of Saturn in our Solar System. The β Pic system thus offers a unique opportunity to study giant planet properties and planet/disc interactions. We present a short — and necessarily incomplete — review of the main discoveries made in this fascinating system over three decades of observations, a number of which were achieved with ESO telescopes.
References:
Augereau, J. C. et al. 2001, A&A, 370, 447; Aumann, H. H. 1984, BAAS, 16, 483; Baraffe, I. et al. 2003, A&A, 402, 701; Beust, H. et al. 1990, A&A, 236, 202; Beust, H. & Morbidelli, A. 2000, Icarus, 143, 170; Bonnefoy, M. et al. 2011, A&A, 528, L15; Brandeker, A. et al. 2004, A&A, 413, 681; Burrows, C. J., Krist, J. E. & Stapelfeldt, K. R. 1995, AAS, 187, 3205; Chauvin, G. et al. 2012, A&A, 542, 41; Freistetter, F., Krivov, A. V. & Löhne, T. 2007, A&A, 466, 389; Hobbs, L. M. et al. 1985, APJ, 298, 357; Kalas, P. et al. 2008, Science, 322, 1345; Lagage, P. O. & Pantin, E. 1994, Nature, 369, 628; Lagrange-Henri, A. M., Vidal-Madjar, A. & Ferlet, R. 1988, A&A, 190, 275; Lagrange, A.-M. et al. 1998, A&A, 330, 1091; Lagrange, A.-M., Backman, D. & Artymowicz, P. 2000, in PPiv, Univ. of Arizona Press, 639; Lagrange, A.-M. et al. 2009, A&A, 493, L21; Lagrange, A.-M. et al. 2010, Science, 329, L57; Lagrange, A.-M. et al. 2012a, A&A, 542, 40L Lagrange, A.-M. et al. 2012b, A&A, 542, 18; Lecavelier Des Etangs, A. et al. 1997, A&A, 328, 313; Lyra, W. & Kuchner, M. J. 2012, arXiv1204.6322L Marley, M. S. et al. 2007, ApJ, 655, 541; Marois, C. et al. 2010, Nature, 468, 1080; Mouillet, D. et al. 1997, MNRAS, 292, 896; Nelson, R. P., Lagrange, A.-M. et al. 2001, A&A, 370, 447; Nilsson, R. et al. A&A, 544, 134; Quanz, S. P. et al. 2010, ApJ, 722, 49; Roberge, A. et al. 2000, 538, 904; Smith, B. & Terrile, R. 1984, Science, 226, 1421; Takeuchi, T. & Artymowicz, P. 2001, ApJ, 557, 990; Telesco, C. M. et al. 2005, Nature, 433, 133; Vidal-Madjar, A. et al. 1986, A&A, 167, 325; Wilner, D. J., Andrews, S. M. & Hughes, A. M. 2011, ApJ, 727, 42
46-48 (PDF)
P. Kervella, A. Mérand et al.
RS Puppis: A Unique Cepheid Embedded in an Interstellar Dust Cloud

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...46K
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Kervella, P.; Mérand, A.; Szabados, L.; Sparks, W. B.; Gallenne, A.; Havlen, R. J.; Bond, H. E.; Pompei, E.; Fouqué, P.; Bersier, D.; Cracraft, M.
AA(LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, UPMC, Université Paris Diderot, France) AB(ESO) AC(Konkoly Observatory, Hungary) AD(Space Telescope Science Institute, USA) AE(Universidad de Concepción, Chile 6) AF(Big Horn Ridge Dr., Albuquerque, USA) AG(Space Telescope Science Institute, USA) AH(ESO) AI(IRAP, Université de Toulouse, France) AJ(Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, UK) AK(Space Telescope Science Institute, USA)
Abstract:
The long-period Cepheid RS Pup illuminates its circumstellar dust cloud with a variable flux, and creates spectacular light echoes. Through photometric observations of this phenomenon with NTT/EMMI, and polarimetric imaging with VLT/FORS, we have derived the geometric distribution of the scattering dust and the total mass of the nebula. We conclude that the dust was not created by mass loss from the Cepheid, but is most probably a remnant of the interstellar material from which the Cepheid formed.
References:
Barmby, P. et al. 2011, AJ, 141, 42; Berdnikov, L. N. et al. 2009, Astron. Lett., 35, 406; Bond, H. E. & Sparks, W. B. 2009, A&A, 495, 371; Havlen, R. J. 1972, A&A, 16, 252; Kervella, P. et al. 2008, A&A, 480, 167; Kervella, P., Mérand, A. & Gallenne, A. 2009, A&A, 498, 425; Kervella, P. et al. 2012, A&A, 541, A18; Sparks, W. B. et al. 2008, AJ, 135, 605; Sugerman, B. E. K. 2003, AJ, 126, 1939; Westerlund, B. E. 1961, PASP, 73, 72
49-52 (PDF)
M. Tewes, F. Courbin et al.
COSMOGRAIL: Measuring Time Delays of Gravitationally Lensed Quasars to Constrain Cosmology

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...49T
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Tewes, M.; Courbin, F.; Meylan, G.; Kochanek, C. S.; Eulaers, E.; Cantale, N.; Mosquera, A. M.; Asfandiyarov, I.; Magain, P.; van Winckel, H.; Sluse, D.; Keerthi, R. K. S.; Stalin, C. S.; Prabhu, T. P.; Saha, P.; Dye, S.
AA(Laboratoire d’astrophysique, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland) AB(Laboratoire d’astrophysique, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland) AC(Laboratoire d’astrophysique, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland) AD(Department of Astronomy, The Ohio State University, USA; Center for Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, The Ohio State University, USA) AE(Institut d’astrophysique et de Géophysique, Université de Liège, Belgium) AF(Laboratoire d’astrophysique, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland) AG(Department of Astronomy, The Ohio State University, USA; Center for Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, The Ohio State University, USA) AH(Ulugh Beg Astronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences, Tashkent, Uzbekistan) AI(Institut d’astrophysique et de Géophysique, Université de Liège, Belgium) AJ(Instituut voor Sterrenkunde, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium) AK(Argelander-Institut für Astronomie, Bonn, Germany) AL(Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Koramangala, Bangalore, India) AM(Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Koramangala, Bangalore, India) AN(Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Koramangala, Bangalore, India) AO(Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Zürich, Switzerland) AP(School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, UK)
Abstract:
COSMOGRAIL is a long-term programme for the photometric monitoring of gravitationally lensed quasars. It makes use of several medium-size telescopes to derive long and well-sampled light curves of lensed quasars, in order to measure the time delays between the quasar images. These delays directly relate to the Hubble constant H0, without any need for secondary distance calibrations. COSMOGRAIL was initiated in 2004, and has now secured almost a decade of data, resulting in cosmological constraints that are very complementary to other cosmological probes.
References:
Claeskens, J.-F. et al. 2006, A&A, 451, 865; Eigenbrod, A. et al. 2008, A&A, 490, 933; Magain, P., Courbin, F. & Sohy, S. 1998, ApJ, 494, 472; Refsdal, S. 1964, MNRAS, 128, 307; Schmidt, R. W. & Wambsganss, J. 2010, Gen. Rel. and Gravit., 42, 2127; Suyu, S. et al. 2012, arXiv:1208.6010; Tewes, M. et al. 2012a, arXiv:1208.5598; Tewes, M. et al. 2012b, arXiv:1208.6009; Walsh, D., Carswell, R. F. & Weymann, R. J. 1979, Nature, 279, 381
53-55 (PDF)
M. Bradač, E. Vanzella et al.
Breaking Cosmic Dawn: The Faintest Galaxy Detected by the VLT

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...53B
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Bradač, M.; Vanzella, E.; Hall, N.; Treu, T.; Fontana, A.; Gonzalez, A. H.; Clowe, D.; Zaritsky, D.; Stiavelli, M.; Clément, B.
AA(Department of Physics, University of California, Davis, USA) AB(INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) AC(Department of Physics, University of California, Davis, USA) AD(Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA) AE(INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Monteporzio, Italy) AF(Department of Astronomy, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA) AG(Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, USA) AH(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA) AI(Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, USA) AJ(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA)
Abstract:
Astronomers have been debating the origin of galaxies for centuries and the timeline of the evolution is now well established. However, despite the success of galaxy formation models, some questions remain largely unanswered. Chief among them is how the first galaxies formed. When the Universe was in a highly opaque state, these first galaxies most likely cleared the cosmic fog and broke the cosmic dawn. However, there are large uncertainties as to how this transition occurred and what the exact role of the first galaxies was. Using galaxy clusters as cosmic telescopes that magnify background objects, we were able to detect hydrogen emission from a galaxy at a redshift of z = 6.740 ± 0.003 using FORS2 on the VLT. To date, this is the faintest galaxy with a successfully measured spectrum and as such an important beacon for cosmic dawn.
References:
Bouwens, R. J. et al. 2012, ApJ, 754, 83; Bradač, M. et al. 2012, ApJ, 755, L7; Dayal, P. & Ferrara, A. 2012, MNRAS, 421, 2568; Hall, N. et al. 2012, ApJ, 745, 155; McLean, I. S. et al. 2010, SPIE, 7735, Robertson, B. E. et al. 2010, Nature, 468, 49; Schenker, M. A. et al. 2012, ApJ, 744, 179; Steidel, C. C. et al. 1996, ApJ, 462, L17; Treu, T. 2010, ARA&A, 48, 87; Treu, T. et al. 2012, ApJ, 747, 27; Vanzella, E. et al. 2009, ApJ, 695, 1163
56-58 (PDF)
J. Wagg, T. Wiklind et al.
Early ALMA Science Verification Observations of Obscured Galaxy Formation at Redshift 4.7

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...56W
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Wagg, J.; Wiklind, T.; Carilli, C.; Espada, D.; Peck, A.; Riechers, D.; Walter, F.; Wootten, A.; Aravena, M.; Barkats, D.; Cortes, J.; Hills, R.; Hodge, J.; Impellizeri, V.; Iono, D.; Leroy, A.; Martin, S.; Rawlings, M.; Maiolino, R.; McMahon, R. G.; Scott, K. S.; Villard, E.; Vlahakis, C.
AA(Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK; ESO) AB(Joint ALMA Observatory, Santiago, Chile) AC(National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro, USA) AD(National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Tokyo, Japan) AE(Joint ALMA Observatory, Santiago, Chile; National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, USA) AF(Dept. of Astronomy, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA; Cornell University, Ithaca, USA) AG(Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg, Germany) AH(National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, USA) AI(ESO) AJ(Joint ALMA Observatory, Santiago, Chile) AK(Joint ALMA Observatory, Santiago, Chile) AL(Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK; Joint ALMA Observatory, Santiago, Chile) AM(Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg, Germany) AN(Joint ALMA Observatory, Santiago, Chile) AO(National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Tokyo, Japan) AP(National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, USA) AQ(ESO) AR(Joint ALMA Observatory, Santiago, Chile; National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, USA) AS(Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK) AT(Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg, Germany) AU(National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, USA) AV(Joint ALMA Observatory, Santiago, Chile) AW(Joint ALMA Observatory, Santiago, Chile)
Abstract:
Roughly half the star formation in the young Universe is thought to have been heavily obscured by dust and molecular gas. A new suite of facilities and experiments operating at submillimetre through to centimetre wavelengths is providing astronomers with the ability to study galaxies whose star formation and AGN activity would be partially invisible to optical telescopes. The most sensitive of these new instruments is ALMA. Even with only a subset of the final number of 12-metre antennas operational, the first ALMA observations are providing sensitive, unobscured images of the formation of massive galaxies. Observations of BR1202-0725 at z = 4.7 are described as an example.
References:
Daddi, E. et al. 2010, ApJ, 713, 686; Genzel, R. & Cesarsky, C. J. 2000, ARA&A, 38, 761; Hu, E. M., McMahon, R. G. & Egami, E. 1996, ApJL, 459, L53; Iono, D. et al. 2006, ApJL, 645, L97; Maiolino, R. et al. 2012, MNRAS, 425, L66; Nagao, T. et al. 2012, A&A, 542, L34; Omont, A. et al. 1996, Nature, 382, 428; Salomé, P. et al. 2012, A&A, 545, A57; Sargsyan, L. et al. 2012, ApJ, 755, 171; Stacey, G. J. et al. 2010, ApJ, 724, 957; Swinbank, M. et al. 2012, arXiv:1209.1390; Tacconi, L. J. et al. 2010, Nature, 463, 781; Venemans, B. P. et al. 2012, ApJL, 751, L25; Wagg, J. et al. 2012, ApJL, 752, L30; Wang, R. et al. 2010, ApJ, 714, 699
59-61 (PDF)
L. Testi, M. Zwaan et al.
Science Verification Datasets on the ALMA Science Portal

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...59T
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Testi, L.; Zwaan, M.; Vlahakis, C.; Corder, S.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(Joint ALMA Observatory, Chile) AD(Joint ALMA Observatory, Chile)
Abstract:
We summarise the ALMA Science Verification datasets released over the past year, the ALMA capabilities that were demonstrated and how the ALMA results compare with previous observations. Some new scientific results that have been produced using the public Science Verification datasets are summarised and an overview of the capabilities that will be demonstrated with future Science Verification observations is provided.
References:
Ceccarelli, C. et al. 1998, A&A, 338, L43; Espada, D. et al. 2009, ApJ, 695, 116; Fortman, S. M. et al. 2012, Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy, in press Galvan-Madrid, R. et al. 2012, A&A, in press (arXiv:1210.1413) Helfer, T. et al. 2003, ApJS, 145, 259; Hirota, M. et al. 2012, ApJ, 757, L1; Isella, A. et al. 2007, A&A, 469, 213; Jorgensen, J. K. et al. 2011, A&A, 534, 100; Jorgensen, J. K. et al. 2012, ApJ, 757, L4; Mannings, V. & Sargent, A. I. 1997, ApJ, 490, 792; Niederhofer, F. et al. 2012, A&A, in press (arXiv:1210.2526) Pineda, J. et al. 2012, A&A, 544, L7; Qi, X. et al. 2011, ApJ, 70, 84; Shukla, H., Yun, M. S. & Scoville, N. Z. 2004, ApJ, 616, 231; Testi, L. & Zwaan, M. 2011, The Messenger, 145, 17; Wagg, J. et al. 2012, ApJ, 752, L30; Zapata, I. et al. 2012, ApJ, 754, L17; Zhao, J.-H. & Wright, M. C. H. 2011, ApJ, 742, 50

Astronomical News

63-63 (PDF)
G. Meylan, M. Steinacher
Switzerland Celebrates 30 Years of ESO Membership

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...63M
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Meylan, G.; Steinacher, M.
AA(Laboratoire d’astrophysique, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland) AB(State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER), Bern, Switzerland)
Abstract:
This year Switzerland celebrated the 30th anniversary of its accession to ESO. The Swiss contributions to ESO are briefly summarised and a half-day symposium to mark this anniversary is reported.
64-66 (PDF)
J. Walsh, E. Emsellem et al.
Report on the Workshop “ESO@50 — The First 50 Years of ESO”

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...64W
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Walsh, J.; Emsellem, E.; West, M.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO)
Abstract:
In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the ESO Convention, a special science workshop was held at ESO Headquarters in Garching to focus on the main scientific topics where ESO has made important contributions, from Solar System astronomy to fundamental physics, and to provide a perspective for future scientific challenges. The workshop is summarised.
67-69 (PDF)
M. Rejkuba, M. Arnaboldi
Report on the Workshop “Science from the Next Generation Imaging and Spectroscopic Surveys”

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...67R
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Rejkuba, M.; Arnaboldi, M.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO)
Abstract:
Over 100 participants gathered to present and discuss the first exciting results from the eleven ESO public survey programmes in the context of current and planned major ground- and space-based surveys. The VISTA and VST public surveys presented a wide range of new scientific results. Presentations of other current or planned large ground- and space-based projects provided a benchmark for the ESO public surveys and their relevance worldwide.
References:
Arnaboldi, M. et al. 2007, The Messenger, 127, 28; Arnaboldi, M. et al. 2011, The Messenger, 144, 17; Cirasuolo, M. et al. 2011, The Messenger, 145, 11; de Jong, R. 2011, The Messenger, 145, 14; Ramsay, S., Hammersley, P. & Pasquini, L. 2011, The Messenger, 145, 10
69-70 (PDF)
D. Baade
Retirement of Preben Grosbøl

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...69B
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Baade, D.
AA(ESO)
References:
Ballester, P. & Péron, M. 2012, The Messenger, 148, 52; 2005, The Messenger, 120, 52 D’Odorico, S., Beckers, J. & Moorwood, A. 1991, The Messenger, 65, 10
70-70 (PDF)
ESO
Announcement of the ESO Public Survey Catalogue for Ultra-VISTA available from the Science Archive Facility

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...70.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
71-72 (PDF)
P. Gray
Staff at ESO

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...71G
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Gray, P.
AA(ESO)
72-73 (PDF)
N. Kains, R. Galván-Madrid
Fellows at ESO

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...721
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Kains, N.; Galván-Madrid, R.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO)
74-77 (PDF)
C. Madsen
Presenting the ESO Story: One Hundred and Fifty Messengers

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...74M
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Madsen, C.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Since 1974, The ESO Messenger has been one of ESO’s primary communication channels to the outside world in particular. It has provided a window not only onto the organisation, its projects and people, but also onto the research carried out by ESO’s ever-growing user community. Last but not least, today it constitutes a fascinating historical source, documenting the life and evolution of ESO over the last 38 years.
References:
Blaauw, A. 1991, ESO’s Early History — The European Southern Observatory from Concept to Reality. ESO, Garching, Germany Kjär, K. 2000, The Messenger, 100, 53
78-78 (PDF)
ESO
Announcement of the ESO Workshop “The Deaths of Stars and the Lives of Galaxies”

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150Q..78.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
78-78 (PDF)
ESO
Personnel Movements

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150R..78.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
79-79 (PDF)
ESO
Vistas de la Galaxia

ADS BibCode:
2012Msngr.150...79.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
References:
Minniti, D., Pullen, J. & Toledo, I. 2012, Vistas de la Galaxia, Ograma Impresores, Santiago Saito, R. K. et al. 2010, The Messenger, 141, 24; Saito, R. K. et al. 2012, A&A, 544, 147