European Southern Observatory (ESO)

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is an astronomical research organisation formed by 14 member states: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the Czech Republic. Finland joined ESO in 2004.

ESO was established in 1962 with the main aim of building an astronomical observatory equipped with high-quality instruments in the southern hemisphere, as well as fostering and organising collaboration in astronomy. The organisation, headquartered in Garching, Germany, is a world leader in its field. Its astronomical instruments are in operation at high altitudes in the Chilean Andes.

FINCA practises and co-ordinates Finnish high quality research in fields of astronomy with European Southern Observatory (ESO) and promotes technological development work related to ESO. It participates in research training and promotes co-operation of Finnish universities in astronomy.

ESO projects
ESO’s current flagship is a VLT (Very Large Telescope) formed by four 8.2-metre telescopes, which has recently provided significant and revolutionary findings on the structure of the universe. In the near future, the VLT’s performance will be improved further with the use of small auxiliary telescopes and state-of-the-art technology to bring into use a VLTI (Very Large Telescope Interferometer), which will provide unequalled imagery at the milli-arcsecond level.

Another large ESO project in progress is ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array), formed of at least fifty radio telescopes, which when ready will signify a great step forward in radio astronomy.  ESO is constructing ALMA in cooperation with the US and Japan. ALMA’s first telescopes are to start up in 2007, with the whole set complete by 2012.

ESO works actively for a new gigantic telescope ELT (European Extremely Large Telescope).  ELT is included in the roadmap of the European infrastructures. It is scheduled to be completed by the late 2010s.

In addition to research, ESO’s operations focus on technology. New observation equipment requires technologically advanced solutions, and only a sufficient degree of activity on behalf of each member state will ensure proper feedback from industry when it comes to supplies.

Plenty of job and traineeship vacancies
ESO is also an important information and education source for schoolchildren, students and the public at large. The organisation’s enterprising public outreach in its Member States has increased interest towards astronomy and research as a whole. ESO also offers plenty of positions for researchers and technical staff from the Member States as well as traineeships for students.

ESO’s Director General is Professor Tim de Zeeuw from the Netherlands. The organisation’s top executive body is the Council, with two representatives from each Member State. The Finnish representatives are Professor Kalevi Mattila from the University of Helsinki and Senior Science Adviser Pentti Pulkkinen from the Academy of Finland. The Finnish representative on the Finance Committee also comes from the Academy.