Announcements

10 June 2019: The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre will be celebrating Asteroid Day on 30 June 2019, and invites you to join in with the activities. This year marks the 5th anniversary of Asteroid Day, which seeks to raise global awareness about asteroids and to support the resources necessary for further asteroid exploration. The ESO Supernova will be hosting special activities on this theme. Throughout the day, in the seminar room on the 4th floor, you will be able to watch movies and listen to short talks about asteroids, their origins and what they can teach us about the Solar System, as well as the discoveries being made by ongoing asteroid research. The exact programme for the seminar rooms can be found here. No reservation is needed for the seminar room activities but seats are limited. In the foyer area of the seminar rooms, you will also find lots more information ...

29 May 2019: Today, students from the Oskar von Miller Technical College, Meran, Italy visited the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre, bringing the total number of student visitors since the centre's inauguration to over 10 000. To mark this milestone, each student was given a gift as a memento of their visit, and the accompanying teacher received the ESO publication "The Jewel on the Mountaintop" for the school’s library. The ESO Supernova reached this milestone after just over one year of sharing astronomy and space with the public through its engaging education programme, exhibitions, public talks, and planetarium shows. Over the last 13 months, school groups from 11 different countries, among them eight ESO member states, joined the education programme. The centre places a particular emphasis on education and encourages visits from school classes, for which special activities and workshops can be arranged. Teacher training sessions at the ESO Supernova are also ...

8 May 2019: On Sunday 30 June the ESO Supernova will celebrate international Asteroid Day. On this day, we are delighted to introduce the latest planetarium show in our programme: The Amazing Adventures of Rosetta and Philae. The famous space probe Rosetta and her lander Philae will tell the story of their decade-long mission to the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The audience will travel with them through the Solar System, encountering asteroids and neighbouring planets, and learning how missions like Rosetta can teach us more about objects in space. Launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2004, Rosetta and Philae were designed to study a comet by getting closer than ever before. They accomplished this mission when, in 2014, Philae landed on Chury, sending home the first images ever taken from the surface of a comet. Now, in this adaptation of ESA’s popular cartoons about the distinguished explorers, viewers have the opportunity to experience ...

6 May 2019: The latest issue of the free magazine Science in School is now available online and in printed form. This European journal for science teachers offers up-to-date information on cutting-edge science, teaching materials, science education projects, interviews with inspiring scientists and teachers, reviews of books, and many other useful resources for science teachers. It aims to promote science teaching by encouraging communication between teachers, scientists and others involved in European science education. Some of the highlights of this issue include: an article about how highly sophisticated lasers on new satellites help to improve weather forecasting; a review of the important influence that tree canopies have on our climate; and an introduction to how to build a particle trap with 3D printers at home. Teaching activities include: creating artwork using microorganisms; identifying subatomic particles using bubble chamber photographs; and an experiment to determine the best laundry detergent for different stains. Science in ...

3 April 2019: On 26 April 2019, the planetarium at the ESO Supernova will host an evening of discovery centred around infrared radiation. The properties of infrared light, how it is observed in astronomy, areas of application and its role in everyday life, all this will be revealed through live experiments in which the audience can participate. Attendees will be introduced to the celestial objects that reveal themselves to astronomers only with the help of infrared observations, and the instruments that ESO and others have built to detect this type of radiation coming from space. The virtual trip into the stratosphere, projected onto the 14-metre-wide 360-degree planetarium dome, will introduce one of the most extraordinary observation platforms — SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy), an airborne observatory that flies in the upper stratosphere to study the infrared sky. To reserve a place at Infrared Astronomy — Objects & Observatories, on 26 April 2019, ...

11 March 2019: On 19 April 2019, the young Munich-based "electronic-jazz-collective" Ark Noir will play under the planetarium dome at the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre. The group’s original compositions, which blend synth-heavy improvisation and beats, will be accompanied by 360-degree visuals, immersing fans in a unique, cosmic experience. Inspired by artists from an eclectic mix of genres, including jazz and hip hop, the band has emerged with their own unique sound, fusing electronic beats with instrumental improvisation. The ESO Supernova Planetarium will make for an unconventional venue for this innovative young group to perform. The 360-degree dome 14 metres wide will provide an atmospheric setting in which to experience their music, promising a memorable evening for all attendees. Performing for you will be: Sax & EWI – Moritz StahlKeyboards – Sam HyltonGuitare – Tilman BrandlE-Bass – Robin JermerDrums – Marco Dufner Though young, the band members have accrued many accolades between ...

25 February 2019: Applications for the ESO-supported Summer AstroCamp 2019 will open on 1 April 2019. AstroCamp is an academic programme in the field of astronomy and physics, organised by the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto (CAUP), that aims to stimulate curiosity and critical thinking. The camp takes place from 4 to 18 August 2019 in a secluded and tranquil setting, away from the stresses of urban centres. The programme is intended for secondary school students from 40 different countries, including all ESO member countries, in one of their final three years of education before university. Students of all backgrounds will come together and take two courses consisting of daily lessons, assignments, and a final exam. Some further highlights include: Observing the dark night skies with the naked eye and telescopes (including the Perseid meteor shower); Skyping with astronomers and physicists from different countries; A computational project, working with data ...

31 January 2019: The winners of the Catch a Star 2018 Contest have been announced. Each winner will receive a mounted image featuring ESO telescopes in Chile, courtesy of ESO, such as the awe-inspiring Whirling Southern Star Trails over ALMA. Additionally, the European Association for Astronomy Education is providing the top 2 winners and the new special category winners with the unique opportunity to hold a video conference with a professional astronomer. The prizes were awarded as follows: First prize: “Detecting the exoplanet HD189733b” by Carl-Fuhlrott-Gymnasium Wuppertal/Germany Second prize: “Cosmic rays” by Specialised Language High School "N.Y. Vaptsarov", Shumen, Bulgaria Third prize: “Low Cost Astrobiology Studies” by Colegio Huerta de la Cruz, Cádiz, Spain Fourth prize: “Calculations of the energy escaping from a black hole” by Evangelisches Gymnasium, Lippstadt, Germany Fifth prize: “The 13th constellation Ophiuchus” by Skrundas Secondary School, Latvia Special category winner (students up to 15 years old): “Sidereus Nuncius, a ...

30 January 2019: Starting this year, the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) will sponsor a special event to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, called “Women in Astronomy”. The ESO Supernova is delighted to be hosting the first of these public events. Every year there will be an outstanding female scientist guest giving a public talk. This year the speaker is former ESO astronomer, Dr. Nadine Neumayer (MPIA Heidelberg), and her talk will take place on 11 February : Public talk (in German) — "Giganten der Schwerkraft - Schwarze Löcher in den Zentren von Galaxien” at 19:00 in the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre The ESO Supernova will be open specially for this activity on that evening. If you would like to attend, you need to book a seat in advance at https://supernova.eso.org/programme/detail/es1141/ The ESO Supernova will be open 1 hour before and for 1 hour ...

30 November 2018: The latest issue of the free magazine Science in School is now available online and in printed form. This European journal for science teachers offers up-to-date information on cutting-edge science, teaching materials and projects in science education, interviews with inspiring scientists and teachers, reviews of books and other resources, and many other useful resources for science teachers. It aims to promote science teaching by encouraging communication between teachers, scientists and everyone else involved in European science education. Some of the highlights of this issue include: a review of the upcoming changes to the formal definitions of SI base units, due in May 2019; an article about the futuristic applications of thermophilic microorganisms; and an introduction to a powerful new diagnostic technology using full-colour X-ray scans. Teaching activities include: an activity building a loudspeaker using simple materials; a calorimetry experiment using nutshells for bioenergy; and a guide to organising a science ...

1 November 2018: Following a thorough assessment, the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB — Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen) has awarded the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre the gold certificate for sustainability. This award recognises the ways in which the ESO Supernova adheres to high standards of sustainability. The council assessed the building in six different categories: environmental, economic, sociocultural and functional, technology, processes and location. The award takes into account not only the conservation of energy and use of sustainable materials, but also features such as the comfort of those who visit and work in the centre. The DGNB concluded that the ESO Supernova is so committed to sustainability that it meets the requirements for a gold certificate. Visitors to the centre can see the plaque acknowledging the ESO Supernova’s gold standard by the front entrance. More Information The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor ...

31 October 2018: The ESO Supernova is proud to announce a new show in its line-up. The Planets — Expedition into the Solar System, jointly created by 19 planetariums in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, including the ESO Supernova, explores the planets of our Solar System close-up. The music for the new show was written by the composer Frank Wolff. The Planets — Expedition into the Solar System will be shown in the ESO Supernova planetarium from 30 November 2018. In recent years, space probes from different space agencies have explored other Solar System planets, such as Mars and Jupiter, so we already know what astronauts could experience there. But human explorers have not yet actually visited any of these worlds and it will be a long time before anybody has the chance to do so. In the new planetarium show The Planets — Expedition into the Solar System you will travel out and ...

23 October 2018: The winner of the ESO-offered bursary for the Winter AstroCamp 2018 has now been selected from 95 applications from 15 countries. ESO is delighted to announce that James Weyringer, an Austrian citizen, is the winner of the ESO bursary. The standard of applications was extremely high, from a variety of enthusiastic future scientists and engineers keen to attend this year’s camp. The ESO bursary covers the full cost of the camp, providing James with financial assistance to participate in this potentially career-defining event. Other applicants have been selected to receive financial support from other institutions across Europe. ESO and its Science Outreach Network are collaborating with the science education event organiser Sterrenlab and the Astronomical Observatory of the Autonomous Region of the Aosta Valley (OAVdA) to organise the sixth ESO Astronomy Camp. The exciting event will take place from 26 December 2018 to 1 January 2019, in the Aosta Valley, ...

9 October 2018: On 15 and 16 October 2018 ESO will host a Teacher Training Workshop initiated by Denmark’s Physics and Chemistry Association (Copenhagen/Zealand division). The participants will attend lectures and laboratory visits, engage in hands-on sessions and benefit from the educational programme of the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre. Throughout the workshop, participants will be introduced to cutting-edge astronomy, groundbreaking telescope innovations and advancements in detector technology. They will also experience inquiry-based learning methods designed to engage students and improve their science literacy and problem-solving skills. By learning about astronomy in a direct way, the participants will return to Denmark as ambassadors of astronomy who will educate the next generation of scientists and engineers. This will be the first ESO Teacher Training Workshop organised for Danish educators. The ESO Supernova regularly offers teacher training sessions that not only connect teachers with astronomers and engineers, providing them with an understanding of the ...

8 October 2018: ESO, the world’s most productive ground-based observatory, will open its doors to the public on Saturday 13 October 2018 between 11:00 and 18:00 CEST. The ESO Open House Day event will be held at ESO’s Headquarters in Garching, near Munich, Germany. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the world of ESO first hand by taking part in many different activities; the programme of activities for the day is set out below. Our Open House Day is part of the Tag der offenen Tür that is taking place across the Garching research campus, as well as at several other local institutes. If you need help finding your way around during the Open House Day, look out for our members of staff, who will be wearing name badges. As ESO is an international organisation, our staff speak several languages between them. Media representatives who wish to attend the event are asked ...

8 October 2018: ESO is proud to announce the release of the English version of Mexica Archaeoastronomy: Between Space and Time, a brand new open-source planetarium show illustrating the important role played by astronomical observation in the evolution of pre-Hispanic cultures in central Mexico. The 20-minute show was produced by Frutos Digitales in collaboration with ESO. The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre is excited to add Mexica Archaeoastronomy: Between Space and Time to its growing collection of planetarium shows. Mexica Archeoastronomy adopts a style similar to that of Mayan Archeoastronomy, an earlier result of ESO’s collaboration with Frutos Digitales, and artfully intertwines science and mythology. The new show delves into how the Mexicans used the calendrical and astronomical knowledge of previous cultures to found the capital of their empire, Tenochtitlan. Vibrant colours, shapes and sounds transport the viewer to a culture that, to this day, still lives on in the hearts of ...

13 September 2018: On Saturday 13 October 2018 between 11:00 and 18:00 CEST, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) will open its doors to the public at its headquarters in Garching bei München, Germany. This event forms part of the Open House Day activities taking place across the whole Garching research campus, when several other research institutes also open their doors to the public. The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre will also be open on the day with its usual programme, which can be found here. ESO can be found at location number 39 on this map of the campus. Information on how to travel to ESO’s Headquarters in Garching can be found here. Some of the highlights of the 2018 programme are: See the ESO Headquarters buildings — join guided tours through the innovatively styled office building and the technical building. Learn how ESO creates artificial stars, see what mirror prototypes for ...

8 August 2018: ESO and its Science Outreach Network are collaborating with the science education event organiser Sterrenlab and the Astronomical Observatory of the Autonomous Region of the Aosta Valley (OAVdA) to organise the sixth ESO Astronomy Camp. The camp will take place from 26 December 2018 to 1 January 2019, in the Aosta Valley, Italy. The camp will explore the theme of exoplanets in several astronomical sessions, including lectures, hands-on activities and nighttime observations with the telescopes and instruments at the observatory. Social activities, winter sports and excursions will contribute to making the camp a memorable experience for the participants. ESO and OAVdA will be responsible for the scientific programme of the ESO Astronomy Camp, and together with several other partners will provide lecturers and material. The registration fee of €550 covers full-board accommodation at the hostel in Saint Barthélemy, supervision by professional staff, all astronomical and leisure activities, materials, excursions, internal ...

26 June 2018: The latest issue of the free magazine Science in School is now available online and in print. This European journal for science teachers offers up-to-date information on cutting-edge science, teaching materials and projects in science education, interviews with inspiring scientists and teachers, reviews of books and other resources, and many other useful resources for science teachers. It aims to promote science teaching by encouraging communication between teachers, scientists and everyone else involved in European science education. Some of the highlights of this issue include: an article about the curation of “big data” in molecular biology; an overview of the Astro Pi challenge for schools; and a fascinating article on the evolution of new species. Teaching activities include: experiments with bananas to learn about biochemical processes; using road safety as a means of teaching physics; and a set of chemistry experiments involving the distillation of aromatic plant materials. Science in School ...

15 June 2018: Join us at the ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre for a special event on Saturday 30 June to mark Asteroid Day 2018. Over one million asteroids have the potential to impact the Earth, and so far we have detected just 1% of them. To raise awareness of the asteroid impact hazard, a global campaign, called Asteroid Day, was endorsed by the United Nations in 2016. ESO Supernova is joining forces with the European Space Agency and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics to host its own Asteroid Day event. Come along for a full day of family-friendly activities, including interactive demonstrations, hands-on experiments and engaging science talks. During the day you will find out all about how ESO’s telescopes search for asteroids, about discoveries they have made so far and also about ESO’s role in the International Asteroid Warning Network. You will also discover how scientists from the ...