Astroclimatology

Forecasts of Observing Conditions on ESO Sites

up to 7 days meteorology forecasts (Temperature, Wind, Cloudiness and Water Vapour).

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Feasibility Studies.

Access to the ESO Ambient Condition Database Server

Query graphical night reports and download data since January 1994 at La Silla, August 1998 at Paranal.

Astroclimate

Paranal and La Silla general information and long term statistics of various parameters relevant for observational astronomy.

Related Publications and links

on meteorology, telescope environment, atmospheric turbulence, and related topics (includes links to some other sites)

Communications and Observations through Atmospheric Turbulence: characterization and mitigation-workshop Onera, December 2019
Turbulence-profiling-workshop Durham, March 2018
2017-12-28 03:54:52 UTC: Earthquake M 5.5 with epicenter at 63km depth under Paranal
Expected climate change in Chile related to global warming
Turbulence-profiling-workshop LAM, March 2017
Snow at Paranal June 25, 2016.
Flooding the Chilean Desert: more information about the severe weather event of March 25-26 2015 in Northern Chile during which some areas in the Atacama Desert saw the equivalent of a century or so of rain in few hours.
Databases for the Characterization of Astronomical Observatories Workshop La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; 22-23 June 2015
Adapting to the Atmosphere Conference Durham, UK, 15-17 September 2014
Atmospheric Data from Astronomical Site Testing in Chile, Workshop Valparaiso, Chile,1-3 December 2010
Comprehensive characterization of astronomical sites, Workshop Kislovodsk, Russia. 4.9 October 2010
Astronomy Meets Meteorology, Proceedings of the Optical Turbulence Characterization for Astronomical Applications Sardinia, Italy, 15 - 18 September 2008
Profiling Optical Turbulence CUTE-SCIDAR at Paranal
Satellite Visibility (Iridium Flares): Exact local (summer) time of events visible from La Silla and Paranal for the next seven days.
An iridium flare, produced by the sun reflecting on the satellite solar panels, can reach -8 magnitude during a few seconds.
Sodium Laser Beacon Monitoring
El Niño Southern Oscillation, links to other sites and ongoing work.
Earthquakes - information and relevance for observing sites.
ESPAS ESO Search for Potential Astronomical Sites, with an extensive documentation on Sites Worldwide and Relevant Parameters.
Astroclimatology of Chajnantor
Anthropogenic effects on Observing Conditions: Jet Condensed Trails
Photometry: Night Sky Quality at Mauna Kea, Cerro Pachon, CTIO and IAC. The Night Sky Live at Mauna Kea and other observatories.
Seeing: Gemini Site Characterization Studies, the WHT Half Arc Second Program, CTIO Robodimm, UW/APO Monitor, Mauna Kea forecasts of Cn2 vertical profiles.