ESO Astronomy

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ESO Astronomy The European Southern Observatory designs, builds & operates world-class observatories on the ground
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ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of even more powerful observing facilities. ESO has enabled the first picture of a planet around another star, measured the distance to the most remote object ever found, found the largest solar system yet around another star and contributed to the discovery of the Universe’s accelerating expansion due to the elusive dark energy.

New milestone reached 🥳Nearly 500 segments of the main mirror of ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) have now arrived ...
14/10/2026

New milestone reached 🥳

Nearly 500 segments of the main mirror of ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) have now arrived from Europe at the ELT Technical Facility at ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile. That is around half of all the segments being made for what will become a 39-metre eye on the sky.

It is not possible to make a mirror this big from a single piece of glass. That is why the main mirror of the ELT consists of 798 individual segments, working together as one, to observe the cosmos in depth and detail.

133 additional segments have been produced (that is, a total of 931). This way, once the telescope is operating, a segment can be taken out for recoating and be immediately replaced.

Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann26009/

📷 ESO

Massive antenna, silent mirror 📡The 15-metre diameter surface of the Swedish-ESO Submillimetre Telescope (SEST) reflects...
12/10/2026

Massive antenna, silent mirror 📡

The 15-metre diameter surface of the Swedish-ESO Submillimetre Telescope (SEST) reflects the dark night sky over ESO's La Silla Observatory, coloured here by the faint natural airglow coming from atoms in our atmosphere.

While no longer in operation, SEST was one of a kind at the time of its first light in 1987. Discover why: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2641a/

📷 J. Rodrigues/ESO

64 years old and still staying up all night 🌟 🔭But OK, that comes with the job we have been doing since ESO was founded ...
05/10/2026

64 years old and still staying up all night 🌟 🔭

But OK, that comes with the job we have been doing since ESO was founded in 1962.

That's six decades (and a little more!) of exploring the cosmos. We’re nowhere near done, but we'll surely find a moment between observations for a slice of birthday cake 🍰

📷 ESO/G. Beccari

A swirling galaxy!Captured by ALMA Observatory, this image of galaxy M83 depicts the light emitted by cold gas molecules...
05/10/2026

A swirling galaxy!

Captured by ALMA Observatory, this image of galaxy M83 depicts the light emitted by cold gas molecules, the ingredients of star formation.

Images like this one allow us to map how the density and temperature of these gas clouds change in different locations within a galaxy. And in turn, understand whether stars form differently in different galactic environments.

Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2640a/

Switch between M83 views in visible and submillimetre wavelengths: https://www.eso.org/public/images/comparisons/potw2640a/

📷 ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/J. Koda et al.

Come on in, our doors are open! 🚪✨Today we’re welcoming visitors as part of the Garching Research Campus Open House Day....
03/10/2026

Come on in, our doors are open! 🚪✨

Today we’re welcoming visitors as part of the Garching Research Campus Open House Day. If you’re around Munich, don’t miss your chance to explore the ESO Headquarters and the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre right next door.

ESO Headquarters info and programme:
➡️ https://www.eso.org/public/announcements/annlang26002-de/

ESO Supernova info and programme:
➡️ https://supernova.eso.org/programme/detail/es1281/

We can’t wait to have you here! 🙌

Have you marked 3 October in your calendar? 🗓️That's the day we open our doors as part of the Open House Day of the Garc...
30/09/2026

Have you marked 3 October in your calendar? 🗓️

That's the day we open our doors as part of the Open House Day of the Garching research campus, meaning that you can come visit us and ask our astronomers and engineers your burning questions about the cosmos.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg, so if you're planning a visit, be sure to check the full programme and you won't miss out on any of our exciting activities: https://www.eso.org/public/announcements/annlang26002-de/

While you're here, explore the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre, located next to us: https://supernova.eso.org/programme/detail/es1281/

Today, ministers and secretaries of state from several countries visited ESO’s Headquarters in Garching bei München, Ger...
29/09/2026

Today, ministers and secretaries of state from several countries visited ESO’s Headquarters in Garching bei München, Germany.

Led by German Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space (Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt) Dorothee Bär, the delegation was welcomed by ESO Director General Andreas Kaufer, together with ESO’s Directors and staff from across the organisation.

During their visit, they learnt about ESO’s facilities in Chile, and about how ESO brings countries, people and institutions together to further our knowledge of the Universe and our ability to explore it.

It was an opportunity to showcase ESO as a model for international scientific collaboration and for the development of, and long-term investment in, world-class research infrastructure.

Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann26008/

📷 ESO

Dark clouds and a starry night sky ☁️ ✨The gleaming Trifid and Lagoon nebulae can be seen between ESO’s New Technology T...
28/09/2026

Dark clouds and a starry night sky ☁️ ✨

The gleaming Trifid and Lagoon nebulae can be seen between ESO’s New Technology Telescope (left) and the ESO 3.6-meter telescope (right) at La Silla.

Their red colour comes from hydrogen atoms ionised by young stars in these clouds. The Trifid nebula also shows a blue tint caused by dust reflecting the light of some of these stars. Yet most of the dust in this image appears as dark clouds.

Discover more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2639a/

📷 J. Rodrigues/ESO

Come behind the scenes at ESO! In Munich on 3 October? Come and visit us! We’re opening our doors for the Open House Day...
25/09/2026

Come behind the scenes at ESO!

In Munich on 3 October? Come and visit us! We’re opening our doors for the Open House Day of the Garching Research Campus.

It’s your chance to step inside ESO and other research institutes on the campus, meet the people working there and discover what happens behind the scenes — all for free!

From chatting with astronomers and engineers to activities for kids and live connections with telescope operators at ESO’s observatories in Chile, there’s plenty in store for you.

Check out the full programme: https://www.eso.org/public/announcements/annlang26002-de/

And while you’re exploring the Garching campus, don’t miss the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre right next door! Enjoy exciting planetarium shows and journey through the Universe in “The Living Universe” exhibition: https://supernova.eso.org/programme/detail/es1281/

23/09/2026

An “oasis in the desert” 🏝️

This is how ESO’s Residencia — which provides shelter and comfort for those who work at our Paranal Observatory — is sometimes called.

Guests staying at the Residencia are well provided for, with over a hundred bedrooms, a restaurant, a swimming pool and even a sauna available. There is also an indoor garden that acts as a refuge from some of the harshest weather conditions on Earth, including extreme dryness, high winds, intense sunlight and large temperature fluctuations.

The Residencia was chosen as the perfect hide-out for the Bond villain in the movie Quantum of Solace and it was blown up in one of the key scenes — luckily, only virtually!

Adresse

Karl Schwarzschild Strasse 2
Garching Bei Munich
85748

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+4989320060

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