Video News Release 8: Soon First Light for VLT MELIPAL (eso0002a)

ESO Video News Reel no. 8 ("Soon First Light for VLT MELIPAL") is published on January 17, 2000. It is issued in conjunction with the imminent "First Light Event" for the third 8.2-m VLT Unit Telescope, MELIPAL, and contains sequences obtained in November 1999. Some of the scenes from this News Reel are included in eso0002a ("Flight around Paranal"). VNR No. 8 begins with aerial and ground-based views of the Paranal platform with the telescope enclosures and the foundation for the VLT Interferometre. A distant view of the entire Paranal Observatory with the Base Camp and the laboratory buildings in the foreground. The third 8.2-m Zerodur mirror for MELIPAL is being prepared for coating in the Mirror Maintenance Building (MMB). The special Handling Device moves it to the new Washing Unit. MELIPAL in its enclosure with the mirror cell attached, before the mirror is in place - the 150 computer-controlled mirror supports are well visible. Work at the UVES and FORS2 instruments at KUEYEN. The Paranal platform at sunset. A series of new astronomical images from the VLT (full views and details). Appendix: further flight sequences. Total duration of VLR No. 8 is about 12 min.

This Video News Release is targeted especially at broadcasters for further editing. In order to keep the audio tracks editable, different sound information has been recorded on two separate tracks at optimal volumes as is common standard in professional post production. This video is not meant for on screen viewing — on ESOcasts are better suited for that.