The ePESSTO+ collection (PI: Inserra, ESO program IDs 1103.D-0328 and 106.216C, instruments EFOSC and SOFI) gathers a detailed spectroscopic follow up of supernovae at the extremes of the known population, e.g. the most luminous, the faintest, the fast declining, etc. This second release contains 1215 spectra for 689 objects, observed from October 2021 to June 2023, with related 602 infrared images. It uses standard EFOSC2 setups with resolutions of 13-17Å between 3680-10320Å, SOFI spectroscopy for brighter science targets, with the blue and red (rarely) grisms (resolutions 23Å - 33Å), and SOFI imaging with broadband JHKs filters. The 101 key science targets of this release (see Table 3 of the DR2 release description) complement the 178 of previous release, with 11 key targets being in common (see Table 3 of the DR1 release description).

Multi-phase, Multi-temperature, and Complex (MMC2025) will be an exciting workshop exploring how feedback mechanisms -particularly AGN and stellar feedback - shape galaxy and large-scale structure evolution. Despite progress, key challenges remain in understanding the relation between gas content and star formation of galaxies in low-mass halos and the properties of the circum-galactic medium (CGM). This event will bring together experts to discuss the latest observations and simulations, highlighting the multi-phase nature of the CGM, its interaction with feedback processes, and insights from X-ray, SZ, IFU, radio, and submillimeter data. Don’t miss this opportunity to bridge theory and observation in the quest to understand cosmic structure formation. Deadline for abstract submission: 30 April 2025.

ESO received 913 valid proposals for observations in Period 116 (1 October 2025 - 30 April 2026, with a duration of 7 months). The deadline for proposal submission was 20 March 2025. On the VLT, the most demanded ESO instrument was MUSE with a request of 3034.5 hours (i.e. 379.3 nights of an average duration of 8 hours), followed by ESPRESSO with 2594.8 hours, and XSHOOTER with 2221.2 hours. HARPS/NIRPS on the ESO 3.6-metre telescope was the most demanded instrument at La Silla, with a combined request of 3277 hours. The plot above shows the number pf ESO Proposals/PIs since Period 62. The fluctuations in the recent years are due to Large Programmes being offered only in even periods since P106. The peak in P106 is due to the extension of the proposal submission deadline during the pandemic.

After more than 31 years of work at ESO, Bruno Leibundgut will retire at the end of April 2025. Given the strong engagement between Bruno and the astronomical community, this will not only be a change for himself, but also for the ESO and the community.

Registration and abstract submission for the ESO workshop "Planetary Formation and Exoplanets in the ELT era”, to be held at ESO Garching, 17-21 November 2025, is now open. The workshop will discuss the understanding of how giant and rocky planets form and evolve, their internal structure and that of their atmosphere, in the context of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT).