European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Welcome to ESO's official channel. We enable scientists worldwide to discover the secrets of the Universe for the benefit of all. We design, build and operate world-class observatories on the ground. On this channel you'll find astronomical discoveries, updates from our telescopes, the people behind ESO and more.
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European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Exciting milestone: construction of CTAO-South has kicked off 🎉
The @ctao_universe will be the world’s largest & most powerful gamma-ray observatory. Co-founded by ESO, it will comprise over 60 telescopes at two sites: CTAO-South at ESO's Paranal Observatory and CTAO-North in the Canary Islands.
For a crash course on the CTAO and its science goals, tune into the latest episode of #ChasingStarlight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKRaz...
1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 31
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European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Let’s set the record straight!
The interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS ☄️ cruising through our Solar System is no alien spaceship and won't hit Earth.
Still, the buzz around it is far from unfounded 🤩
Discover why with #ChasingStarlight
1 month ago | [YT] | 19
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European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Milestone achieved by GRAVITY+, a large upgrade to our VLTI: a laser has been installed at each of the previously unequipped eight-metre telescopes at Paranal.
The lasers are each used to create an artificial star, enabling corrections of the observations for the blur caused by the atmosphere. This dramatically enhances the VLTI observing power.
Discover more with #ChasingStarlight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzK1B...
2 months ago | [YT] | 28
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European Southern Observatory (ESO)
In 2017 the Event Horizon Telescope observed the supermassive black hole at the centre of the M87 galaxy, leading to the first ever image of a black hole, released in 2019.
Now, using observations from 2017, 2018 and 2021, astronomers have found some changes in this now iconic image that could be caused by variations in the magnetic field around the black hole.
Learn more in our latest #ChasingStarlight episode
4 months ago | [YT] | 71
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European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Just imagine checking the news one day to discover that scientists have found a second Earth, or even hints of extraterrestrial life! 👽
Yet exoplanets are far away, much fainter and smaller than their host stars. So how do astronomers manage to find them in the first place? 🤔
This is your “Exoplanet Hunting 101” guide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA47z...
#ChasingStarlight
4 months ago | [YT] | 51
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European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Astronomers have witnessed the dawn of a new solar system!
Using @almaobservatory and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, they observed the first specks of planet-forming material — hot minerals beginning to solidify around a baby star.
It's the first time a planetary system has been identified at such an early stage in its formation, providing an analogue for studying our own cosmic history 😯
🎬 Discover more with the latest episode of #ChasingStarlight!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j-MH...
6 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 62
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European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Chaos, panic, total devastation: asteroids in films are scary, and only an unlikely, heroic mission can save humanity 🚀 ☄️
But what would happen if an asteroid hurtled towards us for real?
On the occasion of #AsteroidDay, find out with #ChasingStarlight!
6 months ago | [YT] | 37
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European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Black holes don't have the friendliest of reputations, but let's face it: they're one of the most fascinating cosmic beasts out there!
So, join us on #ChasingStarlight as we meet some of the Universe's record-breaking black holes.
🚨 Spoiler alert: one eats a whole Sun each day... 😱
7 months ago | [YT] | 37
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European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Lasers are cool: they invoke futuristic spaceships and epic space battles! 🚀
But if we are not under attack from aliens, then why are ESO’s telescopes firing giant laser beams into the sky? 🤨
Let's tune in to the latest episode of #ChasingStarlight to discover the brilliant idea astronomers came up with to combat their sworn enemy: the blurring of observations caused by Earth's atmosphere!
8 months ago | [YT] | 52
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European Southern Observatory (ESO)
📡 ALMA has found oxygen in the most distant known galaxy, and this has astronomers scratching their heads! 😵💫
Discover why with the latest episode of Chasing Starlight!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSqzY...
10 months ago | [YT] | 59
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