Before your run

Getting ready

Your ESO User Portal account provides access to the observing run webletters containing information specific to your programme. The same credentials are used to access p2, the web-based application for preparing observations. For general information on observation preparation, please consult the Phase 2 page.

If you have not already done so, please provide your travel information using the Visiting Astronomer travel form.

Preparing for Your Observations

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the instrument(s) you will be using before arriving at Paranal. Instrument-specific documentation can be accessed through the instrument pages listed in the navigation menu. Many instruments also provide dedicated guidance and recommendations for visiting astronomers.

All observations must be prepared using p2. 

To maximize the scientific return of your observing run, you can prepare additional targets that can be observed if observing conditions are better than anticipated and backup targets that can be observed if weather conditions prevent execution of your primary programme. Please note that strong winds at Paranal often originate from the north; therefore, southern backup targets are particularly useful. Requests for additional targets, backup targets, or changes to instrument configurations must be submitted and approved well in advance according to this procedure.

During your stay at Paranal

Arrival and accomodation

Important information regarding accommodation, logistics, transportation, and safety can be found on the Paranal Site Information, Logistics and Safety page. Please review the safety recommendations carefully before your arrival.

When staying in the Paranal Residencia, please be mindful that many guests work night shifts and may be sleeping during the day. To help maintain a quiet environment:

• Keep noise levels low at all times.
• Use headphones when listening to music or watching videos.
• Conduct video calls outside guest rooms and sleeping areas whenever possible.

For safety reasons, visitors are not permitted to drive on the mountain. Transportation to the telescope facilities will be arranged by ESO staff.

If you feel unwell during your stay, please contact the Paranal paramedic and follow their recommendations.

If you have symptoms such as coughing or sneezing and are working in a control room environment, please wear a face mask, available at the reception. In some cases, you may be asked to work remotely from your room if symptoms persist or could affect the well-being of others.

Observation preparation on site

Visiting astronomers typically arrive two nights before the start of their observing run. This time is intended for final preparation of the observing strategy and observation blocks in collaboration with the assigned Operations Specialist, Support Astronomer, and Night Astronomer.

Visitors are requested to remain at the observatory residencia during this preparation period and until the start of their observing run.

Please discuss your observing strategy and observation preparation with your assigned Operations Specialist or Support Astronomer. For highly specialized scientific or technical questions, discussions with the Night Astronomer can be arranged when necessary.

Visitors are expected to prepare their observations using their own laptop computers. If you experience technical difficulties, please contact your daytime support astronomer to arrange access to an observatory workstation.

Instrument-specific notes:

• FORS2: please do not modify the FIMS files, as this may cause problems during execution.
• FORS2 observations: confirm with your day-time support before 9:00 local time on the day before your observing night that the required instrument configuration is prepared (filters, CCD).

During the observations

On observing nights, transportation to the telescope will be arranged by your support astronomer. 

Current atmospheric conditions can be monitored through the Astronomical Site Monitor (ASM).

Data quality and data access

Data quality information will be communicated throughout the night by the telescope operator and observatory staff.

Raw data are available for download through the ESO Science Archive shortly after acquisition. Quick-look products and selected pipeline-reduced data products are also available through the archive when applicaive.

Fair treatment, courtesy, and respect

Paranal Observatory is committed to creating a work environment that is safe, professional and of mutual trust where diversity and inclusion are valued, and where everyone is entitled to be treated with courtesy and respect. Please help us in maintaining such a professional working environment at all times. 

ESO will not tolerate harassment of any form. In this context we adopt the UN definition of harassment:

Harassment is any improper and unwelcome conduct that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation to another person. Harassment may take the form of words, gestures or actions which tend to annoy, alarm, abuse, demean, intimidate, belittle, humiliate or embarrass another or which create an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. Harassment normally implies a series of incidents, but can be a one-off serious incident. It is important to note that harassment is not defined by the intention of the perpetrator, but instead by the impact of their behaviour on the recipient.

If during your stay you experience uncomfortable situations related to fair treatment, courtesy and respect, and would like to report them, please approach in confidence your support astronomer or another trusted ESO staff (for example the shift coordinator).

Thanks for your help in this important matter, and we hope you enjoy your stay on Paranal!

After your run

Accessing your data

Your observations will be available through the ESO Science Archive shortly after acquisition and can be accessed via the ESO User Portal.

The CalSelector service can be used to automatically retrieve all associated calibration data required for scientific data reduction.

You will also receive a copy of the electronic night report by email.

End-of-mission report

Feedback from visiting astronomers is an important input for improving observatory operations and user support.

Following your observing run, you will receive an invitation to complete an online feedback survey. We greatly appreciate your participation.

No compensation for weather or technical downtime

As a general rule, the observatory does not compensate Visitor Mode programmes for time lost due to adverse weather conditions or technical problems.

In exceptional circumstances involving a near-total loss of observing time (typically more than two-thirds of the allocated programme time) resulting from technical issues, compensation may be considered by the Director on a case-by-case basis.