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What does it take to be a professional astronomer,

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working with the world’s most powerful telescopes producing top-notch science?

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How does it feel to be working in exotic locations

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and collaborating with astronomers from around the world?

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Stay tuned to this ESOcast

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to go behind-the-scenes of an ESO astronomer at work in Chile.

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This is the ESOcast! 

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Cutting-edge science and life behind the scenes at ESO,

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the European Southern Observatory.

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Exploring the ultimate frontier with our host Dr J, a.k.a. Dr Joe Liske.

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Hello and welcome to another episode of the ESOcast.

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Today we’re going to follow around ESO staff astronomer Henri Boffin

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to find out what his work is like at the Paranal Observatory in Chile.

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Now Henri’s work is exciting, but it’s also challenging,

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because it involves travelling for thousands of kilometres between his duty stations

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and he has to adjust quite quickly between working during the day, like most people,

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and working night-time shifts at the telescope.

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Now when he’s not at the observatory, Henri works at ESO’s Santiago offices.

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This is where he conducts his scientific research

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and where he meets colleagues from all over the world.

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Early morning in Santiago, the capital of Chile,

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and a taxi is driving the scientist to the airport,

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where he will fly to Antofagasta, some 1300 km north of Santiago.

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During the flight Henri takes the opportunity to check his work schedule

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for the forthcoming days or reads scientific papers.

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On arrival in Antofagasta, Henri and colleagues take the ESO bus to the Paranal Observatory.

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The first few kilometres of the two-hour ride follow the coastal road through Antofagasta,

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but soon the bus heads into the Atacama Desert,

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where a seemingly endless road awaits the passengers.

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Finally, after a long and tiring journey, Paranal comes into sight.

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Even for Henri, who frequently commutes to the Observatory,

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the arrival at this technological oasis, amidst the dry Atacama Desert, is spectacular.

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After the long journey, Henri immediately heads over to the Residencia,

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which is his home away from home while he is on duty at the Observatory.

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After lunch, Henri takes a quick peek at the remarkable sight of the VLT,

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which stands out on the summit of Paranal.

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Now, the coming night is going to be a so-called ‘overlap night’.

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This is where Henri gets to adjust to working at night

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and where he is going to meet with his colleagues in the VLT control room

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to properly prepare for his shift.

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So, getting some sleep in the afternoon is pretty essential.

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After a refreshing sleep, and as the Sun begins to set,

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Henri meets his colleague Jonathan Smoker who will hand over his observational tasks.

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Several things need to be discussed in order to guarantee a smooth staff changeover,

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and the drive from the Residencia up to the control building of the VLT

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offers a great opportunity for the astronomers to talk business.

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The VLT consists of four Unit Telescopes

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and Henri and Jonathan take over the controls of Unit Telescope 1.

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They discuss upcoming observations and the status of the telescope and instruments

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until they are confident that everything has been set up perfectly.

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Once fully prepared for the night’s observations,

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all Henri and Jonathan have to do is wait for darkness

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and enjoy the magnificent view from the platform of Paranal.

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It’s the next day, and Henri is ready to take over observations.

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After having slept until the late afternoon in the Residencia,

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he now prepares himself for his upcoming night shift.

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Dinner at the Residencia’s canteen — or rather breakfast for Henri — gives him an opportunity 

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to socialise with his colleagues before he heads off to the VLT control room.

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Tonight, Henri performs observations in service mode at the VLT Unit Telescope 1.

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In this mode, Henri and the telescope operator

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conduct observations that have been submitted remotely

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by astronomers from their home institutes around the world.

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Observations at the VLT call for the utmost concentration

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on the part of the astronomer and the telescope operator.

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Henri carefully follows the prepared observing programme

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and switches between the various instruments.

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Everything is planned to ensure the smooth running of the telescope,

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as observing time on this powerful telescope is a precious commodity.

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Before Henri can leave the control building at the end of his shift,

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the night report has to be completed with details of the observations.

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Now Henri can head back to the Residencia for a well-deserved daytime sleep.

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His schedule at Paranal is quite demanding,

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but Henri finds the time to fit in some exercise.

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Now, the desert around the observatory is quite a harsh environment,

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but Henri is an experienced runner who is accustomed to the altitude and arid conditions.

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Later that day, Henri meets two visiting astronomers at the Residencia

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who have come to Chile to hunt for exoplanets using the VLT.

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Now, for tonight’s observations, Henri will act as support astronomer.

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That means he’s going to use his experience

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to help the visiting astronomers carry out their observations.

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In their hunt for exoplanets,

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the visiting astronomers will look for the dimming of light

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as a planet moves behind its parent star.

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This technique can enable the detection of planetary atmospheres,

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but such observations are incredibly difficult and require large instruments.

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That’s why the astronomers have come to Paranal, to use one of its 8.2-m telescopes.

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Shift end after 9 days

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After several nights on Paranal,

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Henri has handed over his observing responsibilities to a colleague

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and now he is ready to fly back home to Santiago.

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Back at ESO’s Chilean administrative centre at Vitacura, Santiago.

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Henri switches back to daytime work and studies binary star systems.

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Working at Vitacura means that Henri can discuss his research with colleagues.

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The daily coffee break provides the perfect opportunity

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to share ideas about latest scientific results and findings.

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Such casual conversations among scientists can often lead to new and unexpected insights.

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This is where we say goodbye to Henri

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and thank him for allowing us to be a fly on the wall during his work.

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Being an ESO astronomer is demanding, but it is also extremely rewarding,

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working on one of the most powerful ground-based telescopes in the world.

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This is Dr J signing off for the ESOcast.

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Join me again next time for another cosmic adventure.

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ESOcast is produced by ESO, the European Southern Observatory.

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ESO, the European Southern Observatory, is the pre-eminent intergovernmental science and technology organisation in astronomy,

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designing, constructing and operating the world’s most advanced ground-based telescopes.

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Transcription by ESO ; translation by —

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Now that you've caught up with ESO,

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head 'out of this world' with Hubble.

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The Hubblecast highlights the latest discoveries of the world´s most recognized and prized space observatory,

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the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope