Announcement

ESOcast 29: Running a Desert Town

The astronomy podcast featuring news and cutting edge science from ESO

12 May 2011

The Cerro Paranal site was chosen to host ESO’s flagship telescope, the VLT, because it is one of the driest and most remote places on Earth. This may make for excellent observing conditions, but the desert is a hostile environment. Water and vegetation are virtually non-existent, not to mention the lack of modern amenities such as power.

How is it possible to run such advanced technology in this barren environment? And how does the site manage to support the staff and visitors at the Paranal Residencia?

This episode of the ESOcast takes us behind the scenes of the Paranal Observatory and shows us how they overcome the immense challenges of life in the Atacama Desert.

Watch more ESOcast episodes here.

Credits

ESO
Visual design and editing: Martin Kornmesser and Luis Calçada
Editing: Herbert Zodet
Web and technical support: Lars Holm Nielsen and Raquel Yumi Shida
Written by: Herbert Zodet and Sarah Reed
Narration: Dr. J and Gaitee Hussain.
Music: Werner Schill and Movetwo
Footage and photos: ESO
Directed by: Herbert Zodet.
Executive producer: Lars Lindberg Christensen

Links

• Download ESOcast 29: Running a Desert Town (various formats available)
• Watch episodes of the ESOcast in iTunes (High Definition | Standard Definition)
• Learn more about life at Paranal Observatory in ESOcast 26: Life and Leisure at Paranal