- Science Users Information
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- Observing Facilities
- Future Facilities and Development
- Observing with ESO Telescopes
- Policies and Procedures
- Telescope Time Allocation
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- Visitor Mode Guidelines
- The p2 Tool
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- Run Progress Report
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- The User Support Department
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- Visiting Astronomers
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- Special Visitor Programme for Scientists working in Ukraine
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Visiting astronomers - Frequently Asked Questions
I have an observing run in Visitor Mode at an ESO telescope – what to do I need to do to prepare my trip?
Answer: The first thing to do is to carefully read the ESO Travel Guidelines for visiting astronomers and submit your Travel Form. Once we receive it, the VATravel Office will contact you to organize the details of your trip.Does every visiting astronomer need to submit a Travel Form? Even if I already went to Chile for a previous observing run?
Answer: Yes, it is very important that you submit a Travel Form in a timely manner (2 months before your observing run), every time you need to travel to one of the ESO sites for your observations. Regardless of whether you are travelling from outside or within Chile, and even if you are booking your flights yourself, the submission of the Travel Form is the trigger for many logistical tasks inside ESO that are essential to make your trip to the Observatory as smooth as possible.I need to have more than one observer for a run – how can this extra observer attend the run?
Answer: As a general rule, only one observer per observing run is accepted in Paranal and La Silla. Requests for additional observer(s) must include a scientific justification for the presence of multiple observers and the names of the proposed observers. Requests must be sent to VATravel (vatravel@eso.org). Requests that are not submitted in due time may not be considered.I cannot take the regular ESO transportation to/from the observatories – how can I reach/ leave the mountain?
Answer: In some cases, special transfers may be booked outside of the regular ESO shuttles. Please note that this may induce extra costs that ESO will invoice to you. More details are available in the “ESO Travel Guidelines”How can I know if my trip is funded by ESO?
Answer: Generally, this depends on your institute belonging to one of the ESO State Members. Please read chapter in our “Travel funding: who is paying for your trip?” for complete details.My travel plans have changed. What should I do?
Answer: If you have not submitted your Travel Form yet and we have not issued any flight tickets, we can talk about the changes. If the Travel Form was already submitted, and the flight tickets have been booked, we need to talk about the possible solutions and the extra fees that may be involved. In any case, send us an email at vatravel@eso.org.