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Celebrating Fifty Years of ESO in Chile

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Celebrating Fifty Years of ESO in Chile Astronomical News Celebrating Fifty Years of ESO in Chile Fernando Comerón1 Figure 1. Many staff and Tim de Zeeuw1 their families attended the 50th anniversary celebration event at the ESO premises in Vita- 1 ESO cura in Santiago. The fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the agreement between the Govern- ment of Chile and ESO to set up a new observatory occurred on 6 Novem- ber 2013. The anniversary was marked by a formal occasion in Santiago, more informal celebrations at all the ESO sites in Chile and by visits from two European astronauts. A round-up of the anniversary events is presented. Figure 2. Both present The 6th of November 2013 marked the and former staff cele- brated the 50th anniver- 50th anniversary of the signing of the sary during the event at initial agreement between the Govern- Vitacura. From left to ment of Chile and the European Southern right: Erich Schumann, Observatory (ESO), which enabled ESO Jean-Michel Bonneau at back, Domingo Durán, to site its astronomical observatory in Albert Triat, Rolando northern Chile beneath its exceptionally Medina, Albert Bosker clear skies. This was a significant mile- at back, Wolfgang Eck- stone in the scientific, technical and cul- ert, Daniel Hofstadt and his wife Sonia Hofstadt, tural cooperation between Chile and the current ESO Director Europe, and the beginning of an inter- General Tim de Zeeuw, national success story that started very Óscar Orrego and Jorge shortly after the establishment of ESO Moreno. itself. It is remarkable that this celebration happened just one year after the one held in Germany in October 2012, which fully fledged observatories by ESO, by the behalf of humanity — to enable scientific marked the 50 years since the signature Association of Universities for Research research that can only be conducted effi- of the ESO convention on 5 October in Astronomy (AURA) on behalf of the US ciently from a limited number of geo- 1962 (see The Messenger 150 and Sirey National Science Foundation and by the graphical locations. The recognition of [2012]). The process by which ESO came Carnegie Institution of Washington. This these aspects by the Chilean government into existence, with the goal of achieving was the beginning of an endeavour that 50 years ago was far-sighted in every together that which individual countries has resulted in the association of Chile sense of the word. It is equally important could not achieve separately, took more with some of the best and most produc- that this vision has permeated all other than ten years from conception to reality, tive telescopes. The list continues with levels of the administration, including the and was set against the difficult back- the current world-leading facilities, among collaboration with the regional and local drop of post-war Europe (see Blaauw, which the Very Large Telescope and the governments. What began in 1963 has 1991). Taking into account the long prep- Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter evolved into a remarkable success story aration time, and the fact that when ESO Array (ALMA) are foremost (Madsen, and a long-term relationship. was established it was still undecided 2012). where its telescopes were to be located (South Africa was the primary candidate The signature of the agreement between Development of ESO in Chile at the time; Blaauw [1991]), the speed ESO and the Government of Chile was a with which the decision was made to go recognition of the combination of the In 1969, the observatory at La Silla to Chile is striking. Intense site-testing unique conditions that nature provides in was inaugurated. In 1976, the 3.6-metre activity of the deserts in northern Chile, the northern part of the country with a telescope, the largest of the telescopes carried out by both North American political appreciation that these condi- there, saw first light. La Silla grew over and European astronomers in the earlier tions offer outstanding advantages for the the years, but in 1990, ESO decided 1960s, resulted in the establishment of country, but also yield obligations — on to place its next-generation flagship facil- 48 The Messenger 155 – March 2014 Figure 3. The 50th anni- and the upper image on p. 47). On this versary party at Paranal special occasion ESO was honoured was held on 26 Novem- ber 2013. by the presence of the many former employees invited to participate in the event, who could meet long-time col- leagues and friends, and shared memo- ries that often went back over many decades of history of ESO (see Figure 2). A series of activities, carefully arranged by a dedicated organising committee, included an open-air exhibition of retro- spective material composed of both observatory hardware and pictures, the projection of movies depicting some of ESO’s activities, and astronomy-related hands-on activities for the youngest family members. Site celebrations of the 50 years of ESO in Chile took place Figure 4. Alfonso Silva also at the La Silla and Paranal Observa- Navarro, the State Sec- tory sites on 29 and 26 November 2013 retary of Foreign Affairs (centre), Xavier Barcons, respectively (e.g., Figure 3), with the the President of the ESO presence of some local and regional Council (left) and Tim de authorities. Zeeuw, the ESO Director General (right) pictured at the reception held at The 50th anniversary celebrations culmi- the Club de La Unión de nated in a formal ceremony on 8 Novem- Santiago, formally cele- ber 2013 at the imposing Club de la brating 50 years of Unión in Santiago, with the attendance of ESO's collaboration with Chile. the President of the ESO Council Xavier Barcons, the Director General of ESO and many members of the ESO Finance Committee and senior management. The President of the Republic of Chile was represented by the Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alfonso Silva Navarro (Figure 4), who was accompanied by ity, the Very Large Telescope, on Cerro National Institutes of Natural Sciences other government authorities. Senior rep- Paranal. In the wake of this decision, the (NINS) and is operational at Chajnantor, resentatives from Chilean academia original agreement between the Govern- taking advantage of the superb condi- and leading figures of the Chilean astro- ment of Chile and ESO was amended, tions that this unique high site offers for nomical community attended the cele- recognising that, in the years that had millimetre and submillimetre astronomy. bration, as well as the ambassadors of passed, both Chile and ESO had under- Soon, on Cerro Armazones, near to several ESO Member States. Speeches gone great changes. The new agreement Paranal, construction will start on the by the ESO Director General, the Secre- foresaw much closer and wider coopera- 39.2-metre European Extremely Large tary of State of Foreign Affairs and the tion, with ESO actively supporting the Telescope (E-ELT), which will be the larg- President of the ESO Council highlighted development of Chilean astronomy and est optical telescope ever built. The E-ELT the significance and rich outcome of related technologies and, through its will ensure that the Paranal Observatory these 50 years of cooperation between public outreach activities, also supporting will continue to have a privileged place ESO and Chile and the promise for the efforts to strengthen the awareness and in astronomy for many decades to come. future. The history of Chilean astronomy interest of the public at large in science from its pioneering beginnings onwards and technology. was reviewed by the renowned Chilean Celebrations in Chile astronomer José Maza. Finally, Óscar Yet, this was only the beginning. Paranal González, a young Chilean astronomer is now recognised as the most advanced ESO celebrated its first 50 years in Chile who was an ESO student in Garching optical and near-infrared astronomical with a number of activities. The celebra- and is now an ESO Fellow in Chile, observatory in the world. The ALMA radio tions started on 30 October 2013 with offered some perspectives on his career telescope has been built in a global part- an open-air party at the ESO offices in as an example of how the cooperation nership with the US National Science Vitacura (Santiago), with the participation between ESO and Chile has benefitted Foundation (NSF) and the Japanese of staff and their families (see Figure 1 generations of astronomers. The Messenger 155 – March 2014 49 Astronomical News Comerón F., de Zeeuw T., Celebrating Fifty Years of ESO in Chile The ceremony on 8 November 2013 Figure 5. ESA astronaut included the gift by ESO to the Govern- and former ESO visiting astronomer Claude ment of Chile of the first atomic clock Nicollier seen inside belonging to ESO, which started working a VLT dome during at the La Silla Observatory in 1976. his visit to Paranal on Besides its historical value, this clock 3–4 December 2013. also has strong symbolic resonance with the cooperation between ESO and Chile, since the official time in Chile was obtained for many years by synchronising with the La Silla atomic clock. This gift was clearly appreciated by the Govern- ment of Chile, which arranged for a pri- vate ceremony at the Presidential palace on 14 November 2013, where the ESO Director General delivered the clock per- sonally to the President of the Republic of Chile, His Excellency Sebastián Piñera (see Announcement ann13092 for details). Anniversary visitors and events The fiftieth anniversary celebrations also presented an opportunity for special In addition to these visits, which were the existing collaborations between ESO guests to visit the observatories. Among actively supported by the Spanish and and Chile and the expectations for the these visitors, ESO was honoured by the Swiss embassies, other embassies future represented by the E-ELT.
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