VLT OPENING SYMPOSIUM

Antofagasta, Chile

1-4 March 1999

Fourth Announcement

 

Scope and Format

Scientific and Local Organizing Committees

Scientific Programme:
Plenary Sessions
Parallel Workshop 1: "Clusters of Galaxies at High Redshift"
Parallel Workshop 2: "Star-Way to the Universe"
Parallel Workshop 3: "From Extrasolar Planets to Brown Dwarfs"

Scientific Registration and Abstracts

Registration Fee

Proceedings

Practical Arrangements and Local Information

Scope and Format

To mark the beginning of the VLT era, the European Southern Observatory is organizing a VLT Opening Symposium which will take place in Antofagasta on 1-4 March 1999, just before the start of regular observations with the VLT.

The Symposium will occupy four full days and consist of plenary sessions (invited talks only) on "Science in the VLT Era and Beyond" and three parallel Workshops (invited and contributed talks) on "Clusters of Galaxies at High Redshift", "Star-way to the Universe" and "From Extrasolar Planets to Brown Dwarfs" It will be held on the campus of the Universidad Catolica del Norte.

To give the Symposium participants the opportunity to see the VLT in operation, special visits to the Paranal Observatory will be organized each afternoon and early evening during the first three days of the Symposium, on 1, 2 and 3 March.

After the Symposium, there will be an Official Inauguration Ceremony at Paranal on 5 March. The Ceremony is intended largely for official guests from the member states and Chile and will be by invitation only.

Scientific and Local Organizing Committees

The membership of the Scientific (SOC) and Local (LOC) Organizing Committees is as follows:

SOC Plenary Sessions

• D. Alloin (ESO Santiago, Chile)
• I. Appenzeller (LSW/MPI, Heidelberg, Germany)
• J. Bergeron (co-Chairperson) (ESO Garching, Germany)
• C. de Bergh (Observatoire de Paris, Meudon, France)
• B. Fort (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, France)
• R. Kudritzki (University Observatory, Munich, Germany)
• M. Mayor (Geneva Observatory, Switzerland)
• G. Miley (Leiden Observatory, The Netherlands)
• P. Nissen (Aarhus University, Denmark)
• H. Quintana (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile)
• A. Renzini (co-Chairperson) (ESO Garching, Germany)
• R. Sancisi (Osservatorio Astronomico, Bologna, Italy)

SOC Parallel Workshop 1

• H. Boehringer (MPE, Garching, Germany)
• A. Cavaliere (Rome University, Italy)
• B. Fort (co-Chairperson) (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, France)
• P. Katgert (Leiden Observatory, The Netherlands)
• P. Rosati (co-Chairperson) (ESO Garching, Germany)
• P. Schneider (MPA, Garching, Germany)
• M. Tarenghi (ESO Garching, Germany)

SOC Parallel Workshop 2

• I. Appenzeller (LSW/MPI, Heidelberg, Germany)
• C. Chiosi (Padova University, Italy)
• R. Kudritzki (co-Chairperson) (University Observatory, Munich, Germany)
• J.-C. Mermilliod (Institut d'Astronomie de l'Université de Lausanne, Switzerland)
• P. Nissen (Aarhus University, Denmark)
• L. Pasquini (co-Chairperson) (ESO Garching, Germany)
• M. Spite (Observatoire de Paris, Meudon, France)

SOC Parallel Workshop 3

• F. Allard (CRAL, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Lyon, France)
• P. Artymowicz (Stockholm Observatory, Sweden)
• M. Mayor (co-Chairperson) (Geneva Observatory, Switzerland)
• F. Paresce (co-Chairperson) (ESO Garching, Germany)
• M.-T. Ruiz (Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile)
• P. Sackett (Kapteyn Laboratory, Groningen, The Netherlands)

LOC

• D. Alloin (ESO Santiago, Chile)
• D. Hofstadt (ESO Santiago, Chile)

Scientific Programme: Plenary Sessions: "Science in the VLT Era and Beyond"

Scientific Programme: Parallel Workshop 1: "Clusters of Galaxies at High Redshift"

Scientific Programme: Parallel Workshop 2: "Star-Way to the Universe"

Scientific Programme: Parallel Workshop 3: "From Extrasolar Planets to Brown Dwarfs"

Scientific Registration and Abstracts

Scientific registration for the Symposium is now closed.

An abstract booklet, containing the abstracts of all presentations (talks and posters), will be published and distributed at the Symposium. Please use LaTeX for the text format with a maximum length of 10 lines in addition to the title and author list. Please submit your abstract(s) by e-mail to pbristow@eso.org, by 31 January 1999.

Registration Fee

The registration fee is DM 200 or US$ 120 if paid by 31 January 1999, and DM 250 or US$ 150 thereafter. Payment should be made either by cheque or by bank transfer. We regret that we cannot accept payment by credit card. Cheques should be made payable to "European Southern Observatory - VLTOS '99" and can be issued in US Dollars or German Marks. Please send cheques to: VLTOS 99, Office for Science, European Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 2, D-85748 Garching bei Muenchen, Germany. Bank transfers should be made to European Southern Observatory's Account No. 21 02 002 with the Commerzbank München (bank code 700 400 41, address: Commerzbank Munich Office, Leopoldstr. 230, D-80804 Munich, Germany) and should contain the name of the participant and the reference "VLTOS '99". Please note that we are not responsible for possible banking fees and therefore participants should make sure that we receive the full amount.

Proceedings

The Proceedings of the Symposium, including all reviews and contributed talks in the Plenary Sessions and the three Parallel Workshops, will be published by Springer-Verlag.

Detailed instructions for authors are available here. The closing date for receipt of manuscripts is 15 April 1999.

All registered participants will receive a copy of the Proceedings free of charge.

Practical Arrangements and Local Information

Travel

Participants are requested to make their own travel arrangements "up to Antofagasta". Please be aware that Sunday 28 February will be the last day of summer holidays in Chile and that an early booking on your flight Santiago-Antofagasta is therefore imperative!

Please note that more favourable rates may be obtained for the air fare between Santiago and Antofagasta if bookings are made through the Wagonlit travel office at ESO Santiago. To take advantage of this service, please contact Patricia Santelices at telephone number (+56-2)-228-5006 ext. 3144, or e-mail her at: cwtstgo@eso.org.

Santiago Airport: International flights to Santiago arrive at the International Airport Terminal. In order to fly to Antofagasta, you need to go to the National Airport, which is located approximately 100 meters from the International Terminal.
To change airports: After Customs, you are on the ground level. Walk out of the International Airport premises, turn left towards a covered walkway, and follow it towards the smaller, older, building. The path is paved (thus, rolling luggage and airport trolleys can be moved easily on it). If you should need help to go from one terminal to the next, assistants are readily available.

Transportation will be provided upon arrival from the Antofagasta airport to your hotel, as well as upon departure from your hotel (or UCN on 4 March) to the Antofagasta airport. You will find a Wagonlit desk on your arrival in the Antofagasta airport to direct you to transportation to your hotel. Please fill in your Santiago-Antofagasta flight details on the hotel reservation form so that Wagonlit can plan for transportation upon your arrival.

A list of the direct flights between Santiago and Antofagasta (flight duration about 2 hours) is given below:

     Flight departures              Flight departures
     Santiago to Antofagasta:       Antofagasta to Santiago:
      
     27 February:                   4 March:
      
     Ladeco  UC382  07:50   	    ...
     LAN     LA142  07:50           LAN     LA183  15:05
     Avant   OT470  08:30   	    Ladeco  UC363  15:45
     LAN     LA182  08:30           LAN     LA167  16:10
     Avant   OT494  13:30           Ladeco  UC351  19:15
     Ladeco  UC350  14:50           Ladeco  UC371  19:45
     LAN     LA150  15:40   	       
     Ladeco  UC394  19:55           5 March:
     Avant   OT492  20:00   	       
     LAN     LA194  20:25           LAN     LA159  08:30
                                    Ladeco  UC379  09:25
     28 February:                   Avant   OT493  09:25
                                    Ladeco  UC343  12:00
     Ladeco  UC382  07:50           Avant   OT471  12:00
     LAN     LA142  07:50           LAN     LA143  12:45
     Avant   OT496  08:00           LAN     LA161  15:05
     LAN     LA112  10:45           Ladeco  UC363  15:45
     Ladeco  UC372  11:00           LAN     LA167  16:10
     Ladeco  UC350  14:50           Ladeco  UC351  19:15
     Avant   OT472  15:10           Avant   OT473  19:25
     LAN     LA150  15:40           Ladeco  UC371  19:45
     LAN     LA158  20:30           Avant   OT483  20:10
     Avant   OT492  20:30           LAN     LA151  20:10
     Ladeco  UC394  20:35           
                                    6 March:
     1 March:                     
                                    LAN     LA159  08:30
     Ladeco  UC342  07:40           Ladeco  UC379  10:15
     Avant   OT470  07:45           Ladeco  UC395  10:15
     Ladeco  UC382  07:50           Avant   OT493  10:35
     LAN     LA182  08:30           LAN     LA143  12:45
     Ladeco  UC334  10:50           Avant   OT471  13:00
     LAN     LA164  11:35           ....
     Ladeco  UC350  14:50           
     ...

Hotels

Block reservations have been made in the hotels in Antofagasta. A separate page allows you to fill in your hotel reservation form. The deadline for reservation of accommodation is 31 January 1999. You will receive confirmation of your reservation by fax directly from the hotel. You may then be asked to fax your credit card number and expiry date to the hotel for final confirmation.

The addresses of the hotels are:

Hotel Antofagasta
Balmaceda 2575
Antofagasta
Phone: (56 55)228-811
Fax: (56 55)264-585

Hotel Plaza
Baquedano 2575
Antofagasta
Phone: (56 55)269-046
Fax: (56 55)266-803

Hotel Holiday
Avenida Grecia 1490
Antofagasta
Phone: (56 55) 228-888
Fax: (56 55)285-457

Hotel Tatio
Av.Grecia 1490
Antofagasta
Phone/Fax: (56 55)247-561

Information on the price of rooms for each hotel is given below, in US dollars. The prices include breakfast.

     			  Single    Double
     Hotel Antofagasta:
     -----------------
       City View             89        89
       Ocean View           131       131
       Suite                193       193 
       Standard              73        73

     Hotel Tatio:
     -----------
       Standard              53        64
       Suite                 84		

     Hotel Holiday:
     -------------
       Standard              92        99

     Hotel Plaza:
     -----------
       Standard              55        99
       Suite Junior          99
       Suite                109

The location of the hotels, as well as the Symposium venue and other useful information, is shown on the map of Antofagasta.

Please note that upon check-in the hotel will require a photocopy of your passport (the page containing photo and passport number) and a major credit card imprint. To save time at check-in it is recommended to bring a photocopy with you.

Symposium Venue

The Symposium (Plenary sessions and parallel workshops) will be held on 1-4 March on the Campus of the Universidad Catolica del Norte (UCN), in Antofagasta, Avenida Angamos 0610, about 5 kilometers from downtown (Plaza de Armas). Transportation from the hotels to the UCN campus and back will be provided every day during the symposium.

During the Symposium, the secretariat can be reached via the following phone and fax number:
(+56) 55 - 25 50 30.

Registration

Please register on Sunday, February 28, 1999. A registration desk will be open on this day in the main hall of Hotel Antofagasta from 10:00 hrs - 22:00 hrs. On Monday, March 1, 1999 a registration desk will be set up at the Universidad Catolica del Norte and will be open for registration from 8:00am to 9:00am only.

It is strongly recommended to pay registration fees in advance. However, if you plan to pay for the Symposium only upon arrival, the Registration Desk will be accepting cheques or cash in US$ or DM.

Lunches and Dinners

Lunches will be at the restaurant El Caliche which is 5 minutes walking distance from UCN. The price will be CHP 5.000 or US$ 11 (DM 20) per person per day, and will include a full lunch with desert and coffee. There will be a vegetarian option. Lunches at El Caliche will be provided only in return for lunch vouchers which may be purchased in advance upon registration at Hotel Antofagasta or registration at UCN. Direct payment at the restaurant is not possible.

For dinners, the city of Antofagasta offers a reasonable choice of restaurants, from fast food to excellent sea-food restaurants. Additional information will be provided at registration.

Social Events

A welcome drink will be offered by ESO to all participants on Monday 1 March, on the UCN campus, after the end of the afternoon session. The Symposium dinner will be organized on 3 March, at the Yacht Club Restaurant, by the sea, downtown (address: Club de Yates Antofagasta, Balmaceda 2705, Antofagasta). The price per person will be around 30 US$.

Special visits to the Paranal Observatory

Visits to Paranal are organized for the Symposium participants on the evenings of 1, 2 and 3 March. Departure will be at 17:00 from the UCN Campus, which means that part of the afternoon talks may be missed. Return will be late at night. Please indicate on the hotel reservation form whether you are interested in this visit and, if yes, your preferred date. As we can accommodate at most 100 persons per visit, a policy of "first come, first served" will be followed. A cold dinner box will be provided. Additional information will be available at registration, but do not forget warm clothes and walking shoes appropriate for Paranal.

Practical Information

Communications: Facilities for communications and email will be made available on the UCN Campus.

Local travel: A Wagonlit office will be set up on the UCN campus, close to our registration office and communication center, in case you would like to confirm or change flights or in case you would be interested in extra (before or after)-symposium activities in the region. Some tours will be organized by Wagonlit if you would like to visit the surroundings of Antofagasta. If you wish to find general information on the region of Antofagasta you may consult the Web address: http://www.chile.cl.

Banking facilities: Santiago Airport: There is an exchange booth in the baggage claim area which exchages Francs, DM and US$ only into pesos. Upon exiting customs on the left there is one ATM machine that can be used to obtain CHP from Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus ONLY. Please remember the machine will only provide pesos, it is not equipped to provide dollar notes. Another ATM machine with the same features is available on the 3rd floor (departure area).

Antofagasta Airport: There is an ATM machine, but no exchange booth. However, the same exchange applies, and the same credit cards i.e.: Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus ONLY.

In the city of Antofagasta: Close to Plaza Colon there are two banks, Banco de Chile and BCI, both equipped with ATM machines for exchange once again into pesos only.

Bank schedules are from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. nationwide, however, ATM machines are available 24 hours per day, and the Santiago airport booth is also open all night for late arrivals.

Local Events

For the residents of Antofagasta and the region, ESO will display an exhibition in the entrance hall of the Teatro Municipal (close to the Plaza de Armas) from 22 February to 5 March. In addition, public lectures willl be given in Spanish on 2 March, at the Teatro Municipal, on "High Technology Challenges of the VLT" and on "Perspectives of Astrophysics for the XXI Century".

Weather

The UCN campus in Antofagasta is located in a pleasant and elevated area facing the Pacific, but still integrated in the city. Although early March will still be like summer-time, the ocean breeze guarantees pleasant weather. Light clothes, protection against the sun, but also warm clothes for the evenings and for the visit to Paranal are recommended.