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

The Messenger 184 is Now Available

Published: 16 Sep 2021

The latest edition of ESO's journal for science and technology, The Messenger, is now available online. Issue 184 opens with an article on the impact of satellite constellations to observatories and ESO’s role in supporting the astronomy community. Next our readers will find a report on the scientific prioritisation community poll that took place in 2020. 

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CONCERTO Commissioning Data Released

Published: 09 Sep 2021

CONCERTO raw data from the commissioning runs on APEX between April and August 2021 have now been released. Selected astronomical targets were observed to demonstrate the capabilities of the instrument and optimize the observing strategies. These objects cover a range of science targets: the star forming region NGC6334 (Cat Paw Nebula, see also ESO announcement), the Crab nebula supernova remnant, the AS2UDSS deep field, and the galaxy cluster RXCJ1206. These relatively short integration data can be used to plan future observing programmes and, in some cases, for scientific work.

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Call for Proposals for Period 109

Published: 27 Aug 2021

The Call for Proposals for observations at ESO telescopes in Period 109 (1 April 2022 - 30 September 2022) has been released. Please consult the Period 109 document for the main news items and policies related to applying for time on ESO telescopes. All technical information about the offered instruments and facilities is contained on ESO webpages that are linked from the Call. The proposal submission deadline is 12:00 CEST 23 September 2021.

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La Silla Paranal Observatory Update

Published: 26 Aug 2021

As of the shift starting August 30, all telescopes on Paranal are in science operations. HAWK-I has been recommissioned in the last days and is also ready. CRIRES commissioning concluded mid August, leaving CRIRES ready for P108. VISIR on-sky validation is ongoing, and it is expected to be available for P108. Therefore, all instruments announced for P108 will be available.

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DDT Proposals Resume their Full Scope Following the Closure of Special Call for Period 107

Published: 26 Aug 2021

Following the closure of the Special Call for Period 107 on 1st September 2021, users will again be able to submit Director's Discretionary Time (DDT) proposals belonging to all the categories normally eligible through that channel, and not only for Target-of-Opportunity observations.

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The Messenger

The Messenger 184 is now available. Highlights include:

  • Williams, A. et al.: Analysing the Impact of Satellite Constellations and ESO’s Role in Supporting the Astronomy Community
  • Mérand, A. et al.: Report on the Scientific Prioritisation Community Poll (2020)
  • Spiniello, C. et al.: The INvestigate Stellar Population In RElics (INSPIRE) Project — Scientific Goals and Survey Design
  • Anderson, R.I. et al.: Maintaining Scientific Discourse During a Global Pandemic: ESO’s First e-Conference #H02020

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

The ESO Science Newsletter

The September 2021 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.