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Issue 95
Messenger Issue 95

The Messenger Issue 95

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Table of Content No. 95 | 1999
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Moorwood, A., Cuby, J.-G. et al.
ISAAC at the VLT.
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95....1M
Authors:
Moorwood, A.; Cuby, J.-G.; Ballester, P.; Biereichel, P.; Brynnel, J.; Conzelmann, R.; Delabre, B.; Devillard, N.; van Dijsseldonk, A.; Finger, G.; Gemperlein, H.; Lidman, C.; Herlin, T.; Huster, G.; Knudstrup, J.; Lizon, J.-L.; Mehrgan, H.; Meyer, M.; Nicolini, G.; Silber, A.; Spyromilio, J.; Stegmeier, J.
Abstract:
ISAAC (Infrared Spectrometer and Array Camera) provides for 1 - 5 μm imaging, 1 - 2.5 μm polarimetry and 1 - 5 μm spectroscopy and is the first VLT instrument fully developed by ESO. The authors briefly recall its design and development, report on its performance during the commissioning tests and present some spectra of relatively faint objects which illustrate further the new scientific capabilities now offered by this instrument.

Page 1-5 (PDF)
Devillard, N., Jung, Y. et al.
ISAAC pipeline data reduction.
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95....5D
Authors:
Devillard, N.; Jung, Y.; Cuby, J.-G.
Abstract:
The ISAAC pipeline, just as the pipeline for any other VLT instrument, is built to provide reduced data on site in order to assess their quality as soon as possible. Another version of the same software will also be running in Garching for quality control, trend analysis, and service-observing data-reduction purposes. All instrument pipelines share the same generic structure, taking care of data handling, i.e. transfers and reduction recipe triggering.

Page 5-8 (PDF)
Kaufer, A., Stahl, O. et al.
Commissioning FEROS, the new high-resolution spectrograph at La-Silla.
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95....8K
Authors:
Kaufer, A.; Stahl, O.; Tubbesing, S.; Nørregaard, P.; Avila, G.; Francois, P.; Pasquini, L.; Pizzella, A.
Abstract:
On November 30, 1998, the second commissioning phase of the new Fiberfed Extended Range Optical Spectrograph (FEROS) was completed at the ESO 1.52-m telescope at La Silla. The instrument had been installed by a small team from the Heidelberg, Copenhagen and La Silla observatories starting in mid-September – just two years after the contract signature between the FEROS consortium and ESO. FEROS saw its first stellar light at the end of the installation phase on October 6th. An overview of the design and of the expected capabilities of the FEROS instrument has been presented in a previous paper [Kaufer et al., 1997, The Messenger 89, 1]; a more detailed description of the opto-mechanical design is found in [Kaufer & Pasquini, 1998, Proc, SPIE Vol. 3355, p. 844]. In the present article, the major technical results from the two commissioning phases which followed the first light event are reported.

Page 8-12 (PDF)
Ageorges, N., Hubin, N.
Monitoring of the atmospheric sodium above La Silla.
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95...12A
Authors:
Ageorges, N.; Hubin, N.
Abstract:
This work corresponds to preparatory work for the laser guide star adaptive optics system planed for the VLT at Paranal. In this framework ESO and the National University of Ireland, Galway, are collaborating within the Training and Mobility of Researcher programme on “Laser guide star for 8 m class telescopes”, funded by the European Commission.

Page 12-14 (PDF)
Baade, D., Meisenheimer, K. et al.
The Wide Field Imager at the 2.2-m MPG/ESO telescope: first views with a 67-million-facette eye.
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95...15B
Authors:
Baade, D.; Meisenheimer, K.; Iwert, O.; Alonso, J.; Augusteijn, T.; Beletic, J.; Bellemann, H.; Benesch, W.; Böhm, A.; Böhnhardt, H.; Brewer, J.; Deiries, S.; Delabre, B.; Donaldson, R.; Dupuy, C.; Franke, P.; Gerdes, R.; Gilliotte, A.; Grimm, B.; Haddad, N.; Hess, G.; Ihle, G.; Klein, R.; Lenzen, R.; Lizon, J.-L.; Mancini, D.; Münch, N.; Pizarro, A.; Prado, P.; Rahmer, G.; Reyes, J.; Richardson, F.; Robledo, E.; Sanchez, F.; Silber, A.; Sinclaire, P.; Wackermann, R.; Zaggia, S.
Abstract:
The basic capabilities of the Wide Field Imager (WFI) were described in a previous Messenger article (No. 93, p. 13; see also Table 1) which also includes a brief account of the contributions by the three participating institutes, namely ESO (Garching and La Silla), the Max-Planck- Institut für Astronomie in Heidelberg, and the Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte in Napoli. Table 1 summarises the most important characteristics. A first fairly complete version of the user manual is now offered via the WFI home page on the Web (URL: http://www.ls.eso.org/ lasilla/Telescopes/2p2T/E2p2M/WFI/WFI. html). The same page also provides access to some examples of pictures obtained with the instrument. An exposure time calculator is available under the URL: http://www.eso.org/observing/etc/

Page 15-16 (PDF)
Lidman, C.
New SOFI Grisms – NTT and IR Teams
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95...17L
Authors:
Lidman, C.
Abstract:
A new grism, with a resolving power of one to two thousand, was installed and tested over the new year. To cover most of the 0.8 micron to 2.5 micron range, the grism is used in orders 3 to 8 and with the broad-band filters (Z, J, H and Ks) as order-sorting filters. The details are listed in the following table. The resolution is listed for the 0.6 arcsecond slit.

Page 17-17 (PDF)
Hainaut, O.R.
News from the NTT
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95...17H
Authors:
Hainaut, O.R.
Abstract:
The last three months have again been very quiet, with a total technical down time of 1.7%. As the telescope behaved very well, we had enough time to continue improving the system to make it even more reliable and user-friendly. To mention just a few of these improvements that are visible for the observer:

Page 17-17 (PDF)
Brewer, J., Hainaut, O. et al.
The La Silla News Page
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95S..17B
Authors:
Brewer, J.; Hainaut, O.; Kürster, M.
Abstract:
The editors of the La Silla News Page would like to welcome readers of the thirteenth edition of a page devoted to reporting on technical updates and observational achievements at La Silla. We would like this page to inform the astronomical community of changes made to telescopes, instruments, operations, and of instrumental performances that cannot be reported conveniently elsewhere. Contributions and inquiries to this page from the community are most welcome.

Page 17-17 (PDF)
Woudt, P. A., Silva, D.
The NTT service observing programme: on the efficiency of service observing.
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95...18W
Authors:
Woudt, P. A.; Silva, D.
Abstract:
A number of articles have recently appeared in the ESO Messenger reporting on the past experience of the NTT service observing programme in Periods 58, 59 and 60 (Silva and Quinn 1997, Silva 1998). In this paper, the third in this series, we report on the results of a statistical analysis of the efficiency of service observing during Period 60. We have compared service observing (SO) with the classical ‘Visitor’ Mode (VIS), and with the other main programme executed at the NTT during this period, the ESO Imaging Survey (EIS). To obtain an insight into the efficiency of service observing, we examined the Period 60 NTT observing logs in detail. We have only compared nighttime operations, and do not include pre-observing preparations into our analysis. The observations in Service Mode suffered significantly more from adverse weather conditions at La Silla than both the VIS and EIS observations. On average, the down time during Service Mode (both weather and technical down time) is more than double the down time during either the VIS and EIS Mode, 23.7% versus 10.9% and 10.4% respectively. Irrespective of these adverse weather conditions during Service Mode, it can be maintained that service observing is an efficient way of managing telescope time.

Page 18-24 (PDF)
Sterzik, M.
A New Control Room for the 3.6-m Telescope
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95...18S
Authors:
Sterzik, M.
Abstract:
The 3.6-m telescope team started the year 1999 with the move of the control room. Our new control room is now located in the third floor of the telescope building, in a spacious room that has been freshly refurbished for this purpose. The general design is kept modern and functional, but a warm and friendly atmosphere in the room is generated by wooden panelling and wooden doors.

Page 18-18 (PDF)
ESO
“First Light” of UT2
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95...24.
Authors:
ESO
Abstract:
Following the installation of the main mirror in its cell and a 20-hour working session to put the complex secondary mirror and its support in place, the UT2, now Kueyen, achieved (technical) first light in the morning of March 1, 1999, when an image was obtained of a bright star. It showed this telescope to be in good optical shape and further adjustments of the optical and mechanical systems are expected soon to result in some “astronomical” images.

Page 24-24 (PDF)
Reports from Observers
Stecklum, B., Käufl, H.-U. et al.
The lunar occultation of CW Leo - a great finale for TIMMI.
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95...25S
Authors:
Stecklum, B.; Käufl, H.-U.; Richichi, A.
Abstract:
Although TIMMI (Käufl et al. 1992), ESO’s thermal infrared multi-mode instrument, had been decommissioned after Period 61, it got its very last chance on November 11th, 1998. The measurement was a special one, recording the lunar occultation of the well-known carbon star CW Leo1, and the present contribution summarises these observations.

Page 25-27 (PDF)
Guzzo, L., Böhringer, H. et al.
The REFLEX cluster survey: observing strategy and first results on large-scale structure.
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95...27G
Authors:
Guzzo, L.; Böhringer, H.; Schuecker, P.; Collins, C. A.; Schindler, S.; Neumann, D. M.; de Grandi, S.; Cruddace, R.; Chincarini, G.; Edge, A. C.; Shaver, P. A.; Voges, W.
Abstract:
The authors discuss how after several years of work with the X-ray data from the RASS and with ESO telescopes, the REFLEX project has reached a stage where the first significant results on large-scale structure can be harvested. They hope to have at least given a hint of how the REFLEX survey is possibly the first X-ray selected cluster survey where the highest priority was given to the statistically homogeneous sampling over very large solid angles. This makes it an optimal sample for detecting and quantifying the spatial distribution of the most massive structures in the Universe, as can be appreciated from the high S/N superclusters out to at least z ≡ 0.1.

Page 27-32 (PDF)
Fynbo, J. U., Thomsen, B. et al.
NTT service mode observations of the Lyman-limit absorber towards Q1205-30.
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95...32F
Authors:
Fynbo, J. U.; Thomsen, B.; Møller, P.
Abstract:
In order to examine whether zabs ≍ zem systems indeed are more active emitters (e.g. due to photoionisation by the QSO or induced star formation) the authors choose to study Q1205-30, since the spectrum of Q1205-30 published by Lanzetta et al. (1991) shows the presence of a strong LLS at the emission redshift of the QSO, which is zem = 3.036. In this paper the authors report on preliminary results of the analysis of the data obtained during NTT service observation in January, February and March 1998.

Page 32-33 (PDF)
Other Astronomical News
Duerbeck, H. W., Osterbrock, D. E. et al.
Halfway from La Silla to Paranal - in 1909.
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95...34D
Authors:
Duerbeck, H. W.; Osterbrock, D. E.; Barrera S., L. H.; Leiva G., R.
Abstract:
This month - March 1999 - sees the 90th anniversary of the first expedition in northern Chile to search for a good site for an astronomical observatory: the Curtis expedition.

Page 34-37 (PDF)
Nordström, B.
The Questionnaire Survey for “La Silla 2000+”
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95...38N
Authors:
Nordström, B.
Abstract:
First, I wish to thank the many colleagues who have spent time and effort on answering the “Questionnaire on the Future of the La Silla Facilities 1999–2006”. I am happy to report that we received 254 answers, about twice as many as four years ago, when a similar survey was initiated. This is a very gratifying response, which testifies to the great interest in the future of La Silla in the community and lends important support to the recommendations we will prepare.

Page 38-38 (PDF)
Announcements
ESO
Catherine Cesarsky – ESO’s Next Director General
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95...38.
Authors:
ESO
Abstract:
The ESO Council has appointed Dr. Catherine Cesarsky as Director General for a five-year period, succeeding Professor Riccardo Giacconi, whose term ends this year. Dr. Cesarsky will take up her duties on September 1, 1999, at the ESO Headquarters in Garching (Germany).

Page 38-38 (PDF)
ESO
List of Scientific Preprints (January–March 1999)
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95Q..39.
Authors:
ESO
Abstract:
1313. E. Brocato et al.: Predicted HST FOC and Broad Band Colours for Young and Intermediate Simple Stellar Populations. A&A.

Page 39-39 (PDF)
ESO
Personnel Movements
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95R..39.
Authors:
ESO

Page 39-39 (PDF)
ESO
ESO Studentship Programme
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95S..39.
Authors:
ESO
Abstract:
The European Southern Observatory research student programme aims at providing the opportunities and the facilities to enhance the post-graduate programmes of ESO member-state universities by bringing young scientists into close contact with the instruments, activities, and people at one of the world’s foremost observatories. For more information about ESO’s astronomical research activities please consult Research Projects and Activities (http://www.eso.org/projects/ or http://www.eso.org/science/).

Page 39-39 (PDF)
ESO
Minor Planet Mariotti
More...
ADS BibCode: 1999Msngr..95R..40.
Authors:
ESO
Abstract:
“Named in memory of Jean-Marie Mariotti (1955–1998), French astronomer, most recently in Garching at the European Southern Observatory. He led the pioneering project to establish optical interferometry with the new Very Large Telescope as a breakthrough new astronomical instrument for the next century. His interest was in the area of high angular resolution, and he was involved in interferometric projects both on the ground (e.g., FLUOR and VLTI) and in space (DARWIN). He hoped with these techniques to find low-mass companions, and ultimately planets outside our solar system. He had an extraordinarily effective mix of technical expertise and scientific eagerness."

Page 40-40 (PDF)

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