Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007eso..pres...48.&link_type=abstract
ESO Press Release, 10/2007
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
As part of his first official trip to Brazil and Chile, the European Science and Research Commissioner, Janez Potočnik, visited Europe's flagship for ground-based astronomy, the ESO Paranal Observatory. ESO PR Photo 48a/07 ESO PR Photo 48a/07 Commissioner Potočnik at the Control-Console of the VLT
The major facility atop the 2600m high Paranal mountain in the Chilean Atacama Desert is the Very Large Telescope (VLT), whose design, instrument complement and operating principles set the standard for ground-based optical and infrared astronomy. The VLT Interferometer (VLTI) enhances the capabilities of this unique facility even further as do the survey telescopes VST (optical) and VISTA (infrared). Publication statistics show that the VLT provides data for a scientific paper every day, all year round.
The Commissioner was accompanied, among others, by Jaime Pérez Vidal, Head of Delegation of the European Commission (EC) to Chile, Mary Minch and Cornelia Nauen, respectively Director and Principal Administrator of International Scientific Cooperation for the EC, and Hervé Peró, Head of EC Unit Research Infrastructures.
The visitors were able to acquaint themselves with the VLT during an overnight stay at this remote site. The guests were welcomed by the ESO Director General, Tim de Zeeuw, the ESO Representative in Chile, Felix Mirabel, and the Director of the Paranal Observatory, Andreas Kaufer, as well as ESO staff members of many nationalities.
The visitors were shown the various frontline installations at the observatory, including many of the distinctive VLT astronomical instruments that have been built in collaboration between ESO and European research institutes. The Commissioner was provided with a good impression of the wide range of exciting research programmes that are carried out with the VLT. ESO PR Photo 48b/07 ESO PR Photo 48b/07 Commissioner Potočnik Visiting the ESO Observatory at Paranal
Having enjoyed the spectacular sunset over the Pacific Ocean from the Paranal platform, the Commissioner visited the VLT Control Room from where the four 8.2-m Unit Telescopes and the VLTI are operated. Here, the Commissioner was invited to participate in an observing sequence at the console of one of the 8.2-m Unit Telescopes of the VLT.
"I've been very impressed with what I've seen at the ESO observatory," said Commissioner Potočnik. "Quite apart from the fascinating science being carried out here, Paranal shows what we can achieve when we work together. It is this sort of co-operative endeavour that I am keen to develop as a result of this visit to Chile."
"I'm delighted about the visit of the Commissioner and to show him first-hand the wonderful science-machine that ESO has designed, has built, and operates for European astronomy", said Tim de Zeeuw. "Indeed, the success of the VLT marks also a success for the European Research Area. With the European participation in the global ALMA project, through ESO, we aim to build on this success and we look forward to taking the next step with the realisation of the Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT)."
The Commissioner's visit is part of an official trip to Chile and Brazil, both having very strong Science and Technology (S&T) links with the EU. The EU has established an ambitious bilateral relationship with Chile, with an S&T agreement dating back to 2002. ESO, the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere, has been present in Chile since the mid 1960s.
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