ESO
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The European Southern Observatory designs, builds & operates world-class observatories on the ground for the benefit of society. More info on eso.org
It's likely that the Sun formed in a similar star formation region like this one featured here.
On the left, Lupus 3 is a dark cloud where new stars are forming. On the right, stars that have already emerged from their dusty stellar nursery.
More: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1303/ 🔭
On the left, Lupus 3 is a dark cloud where new stars are forming. On the right, stars that have already emerged from their dusty stellar nursery.
More: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1303/ 🔭
January 15, 2026 at 1:02 PM
It's likely that the Sun formed in a similar star formation region like this one featured here.
On the left, Lupus 3 is a dark cloud where new stars are forming. On the right, stars that have already emerged from their dusty stellar nursery.
More: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1303/ 🔭
On the left, Lupus 3 is a dark cloud where new stars are forming. On the right, stars that have already emerged from their dusty stellar nursery.
More: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1303/ 🔭
Visit the supermassive #BlackHole at the centre of the M87 galaxy.
At the end of this video, you will see the first ever image of a black hole, released in 2019, followed by an image released in 2021 showing how this object looks in polarised light.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2105/ 🔭
At the end of this video, you will see the first ever image of a black hole, released in 2019, followed by an image released in 2021 showing how this object looks in polarised light.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2105/ 🔭
January 14, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Visit the supermassive #BlackHole at the centre of the M87 galaxy.
At the end of this video, you will see the first ever image of a black hole, released in 2019, followed by an image released in 2021 showing how this object looks in polarised light.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2105/ 🔭
At the end of this video, you will see the first ever image of a black hole, released in 2019, followed by an image released in 2021 showing how this object looks in polarised light.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2105/ 🔭
ICYMI, our VLT has discovered a mysterious type of shock wave originating from the interaction between a dead star and the surrounding interstellar gas.
This shock wave can’t be explained by any known mechanism.
Video summary 🎥 👇
Full story: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2601/
🔭 🧪 ☄️
This shock wave can’t be explained by any known mechanism.
Video summary 🎥 👇
Full story: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2601/
🔭 🧪 ☄️
January 13, 2026 at 9:22 AM
ICYMI, our VLT has discovered a mysterious type of shock wave originating from the interaction between a dead star and the surrounding interstellar gas.
This shock wave can’t be explained by any known mechanism.
Video summary 🎥 👇
Full story: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2601/
🔭 🧪 ☄️
This shock wave can’t be explained by any known mechanism.
Video summary 🎥 👇
Full story: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2601/
🔭 🧪 ☄️
The interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS has been stealing the spotlight lately. But it’s not the only comet capable of putting on a show!
Here you see C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), above Paranal early last year.
https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2505d/
📷 Y. Beletsky (LCO)/ESO #flashback 🔭
Here you see C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), above Paranal early last year.
https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2505d/
📷 Y. Beletsky (LCO)/ESO #flashback 🔭
January 13, 2026 at 8:01 AM
The interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS has been stealing the spotlight lately. But it’s not the only comet capable of putting on a show!
Here you see C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), above Paranal early last year.
https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2505d/
📷 Y. Beletsky (LCO)/ESO #flashback 🔭
Here you see C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), above Paranal early last year.
https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2505d/
📷 Y. Beletsky (LCO)/ESO #flashback 🔭
#ESOjobs We are looking for Science Communication interns in Garching. As this is a rolling position, there is no application deadline.
Details: https://recruitment.eso.org/
Follow our LinkedIn page for career opportunities at ESO: http://www.linkedin.com/company/european-southern-observatory
Details: https://recruitment.eso.org/
Follow our LinkedIn page for career opportunities at ESO: http://www.linkedin.com/company/european-southern-observatory
January 12, 2026 at 1:02 PM
#ESOjobs We are looking for Science Communication interns in Garching. As this is a rolling position, there is no application deadline.
Details: https://recruitment.eso.org/
Follow our LinkedIn page for career opportunities at ESO: http://www.linkedin.com/company/european-southern-observatory
Details: https://recruitment.eso.org/
Follow our LinkedIn page for career opportunities at ESO: http://www.linkedin.com/company/european-southern-observatory
Astronomers surprised by mysterious shock wave around dead star 😲
No known mechanism can fully explain our VLT's observations of the type of shock wave — called a bow shock — that a white dwarf originates as it interacts with the interstellar gas.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2601/
🔭 🧪
No known mechanism can fully explain our VLT's observations of the type of shock wave — called a bow shock — that a white dwarf originates as it interacts with the interstellar gas.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2601/
🔭 🧪
January 12, 2026 at 10:02 AM
Astronomers surprised by mysterious shock wave around dead star 😲
No known mechanism can fully explain our VLT's observations of the type of shock wave — called a bow shock — that a white dwarf originates as it interacts with the interstellar gas.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2601/
🔭 🧪
No known mechanism can fully explain our VLT's observations of the type of shock wave — called a bow shock — that a white dwarf originates as it interacts with the interstellar gas.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2601/
🔭 🧪
"I was completely overwhelmed by the beauty of it all, to the point of forgetting everything around me! A sky of absolute purity, free from artificial light.”
This is how astrophotographer Julien Looten remembers the night he captured this VLT view https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2602a/
🔭 🧪
This is how astrophotographer Julien Looten remembers the night he captured this VLT view https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2602a/
🔭 🧪
January 12, 2026 at 8:01 AM
"I was completely overwhelmed by the beauty of it all, to the point of forgetting everything around me! A sky of absolute purity, free from artificial light.”
This is how astrophotographer Julien Looten remembers the night he captured this VLT view https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2602a/
🔭 🧪
This is how astrophotographer Julien Looten remembers the night he captured this VLT view https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2602a/
🔭 🧪
#TourESO 📹🔴 Settled into a cosy spot and grabbed a snack 🥙? Fantastic, because the next virtual tour of ESO's Paranal Observatory is going live in just 5 minutes!
Streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ESOobservatory/
📷 Iztok Boncina/ESO
Streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ESOobservatory/
📷 Iztok Boncina/ESO
January 10, 2026 at 1:56 PM
#TourESO 📹🔴 Settled into a cosy spot and grabbed a snack 🥙? Fantastic, because the next virtual tour of ESO's Paranal Observatory is going live in just 5 minutes!
Streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ESOobservatory/
📷 Iztok Boncina/ESO
Streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ESOobservatory/
📷 Iztok Boncina/ESO
Take off to the bright orange star Betelgeuse 🚀🌟
The star underwent an unprecedented dimming in late 2019 and early 2020. Observations later revealed that it was caused by a dusty veil shading the star, due to a drop in temperature on the star's surface.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2109/ 🔭
The star underwent an unprecedented dimming in late 2019 and early 2020. Observations later revealed that it was caused by a dusty veil shading the star, due to a drop in temperature on the star's surface.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2109/ 🔭
January 7, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Take off to the bright orange star Betelgeuse 🚀🌟
The star underwent an unprecedented dimming in late 2019 and early 2020. Observations later revealed that it was caused by a dusty veil shading the star, due to a drop in temperature on the star's surface.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2109/ 🔭
The star underwent an unprecedented dimming in late 2019 and early 2020. Observations later revealed that it was caused by a dusty veil shading the star, due to a drop in temperature on the star's surface.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2109/ 🔭
Out in the Atacama Desert, magic is everywhere: brilliant stars above, and, on the ground, wildlife that sometimes drops by our observatories to say hello. Just like these Vicuñas, a common sight around ALMA.
Get the image: https://www.eso.org/public/images/nik2317-cc/
Get the image: https://www.eso.org/public/images/nik2317-cc/
January 6, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Out in the Atacama Desert, magic is everywhere: brilliant stars above, and, on the ground, wildlife that sometimes drops by our observatories to say hello. Just like these Vicuñas, a common sight around ALMA.
Get the image: https://www.eso.org/public/images/nik2317-cc/
Get the image: https://www.eso.org/public/images/nik2317-cc/
#ESOjobs The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre is looking for an intern to join their team as a Science Presenter, in Garching.
As this is a rolling position, there is no application deadline.
Details at: https://recruitment.eso.org/
Background image by ESO
As this is a rolling position, there is no application deadline.
Details at: https://recruitment.eso.org/
Background image by ESO
January 5, 2026 at 1:01 PM
#ESOjobs The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre is looking for an intern to join their team as a Science Presenter, in Garching.
As this is a rolling position, there is no application deadline.
Details at: https://recruitment.eso.org/
Background image by ESO
As this is a rolling position, there is no application deadline.
Details at: https://recruitment.eso.org/
Background image by ESO
Using APEX, astronomers carried out the CAFFEINE survey, observing many stellar nurseries — including GAL316 👇
They wanted to find out whether denser clouds of gas and dust are more efficient at forming new stars
Here's what they discovered: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2601a/
🔭 🧪
They wanted to find out whether denser clouds of gas and dust are more efficient at forming new stars
Here's what they discovered: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2601a/
🔭 🧪
January 5, 2026 at 8:02 AM
Using APEX, astronomers carried out the CAFFEINE survey, observing many stellar nurseries — including GAL316 👇
They wanted to find out whether denser clouds of gas and dust are more efficient at forming new stars
Here's what they discovered: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2601a/
🔭 🧪
They wanted to find out whether denser clouds of gas and dust are more efficient at forming new stars
Here's what they discovered: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2601a/
🔭 🧪
Let the new year swirl in…
What looks like a vortex of fire is in reality a disc around the young AB Aurigae star.
Close to the centre, the ‘twist’ (in very bright yellow) marks the spot where scientists believe a planet is forming. 🔭
What looks like a vortex of fire is in reality a disc around the young AB Aurigae star.
Close to the centre, the ‘twist’ (in very bright yellow) marks the spot where scientists believe a planet is forming. 🔭
January 1, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Let the new year swirl in…
What looks like a vortex of fire is in reality a disc around the young AB Aurigae star.
Close to the centre, the ‘twist’ (in very bright yellow) marks the spot where scientists believe a planet is forming. 🔭
What looks like a vortex of fire is in reality a disc around the young AB Aurigae star.
Close to the centre, the ‘twist’ (in very bright yellow) marks the spot where scientists believe a planet is forming. 🔭
Join us on a trip to the dwarf star PDS 70, located 400 light-years away and with at least two planets orbiting it.
The final shot shows an ALMA image of the PDS 70 system, where a moon-forming disc is visible around planet PDS 70c.
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2111/ 🔭
The final shot shows an ALMA image of the PDS 70 system, where a moon-forming disc is visible around planet PDS 70c.
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2111/ 🔭
December 31, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Join us on a trip to the dwarf star PDS 70, located 400 light-years away and with at least two planets orbiting it.
The final shot shows an ALMA image of the PDS 70 system, where a moon-forming disc is visible around planet PDS 70c.
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2111/ 🔭
The final shot shows an ALMA image of the PDS 70 system, where a moon-forming disc is visible around planet PDS 70c.
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2111/ 🔭
Let’s round off the year with a spectacular burst of cosmic fireworks from the Universe itself: the mix of stars in the stellar cluster known as Terzan 5. Wishing you all a wonderful 2026! 🎇
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso1630a/
🔭 #flashback
📷 ESO/F. Ferraro
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso1630a/
🔭 #flashback
📷 ESO/F. Ferraro
December 30, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Let’s round off the year with a spectacular burst of cosmic fireworks from the Universe itself: the mix of stars in the stellar cluster known as Terzan 5. Wishing you all a wonderful 2026! 🎇
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso1630a/
🔭 #flashback
📷 ESO/F. Ferraro
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso1630a/
🔭 #flashback
📷 ESO/F. Ferraro
Take a glimpse into APEX, located in Chile’s Atacama Desert 📡👀
Once a joint project of the Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR), the Onsala Space Observatory and ESO, APEX now becomes a project solely of the MPIfR.
www.eso.org/public/video...
🔭
Once a joint project of the Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR), the Onsala Space Observatory and ESO, APEX now becomes a project solely of the MPIfR.
www.eso.org/public/video...
🔭
December 29, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Take a glimpse into APEX, located in Chile’s Atacama Desert 📡👀
Once a joint project of the Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR), the Onsala Space Observatory and ESO, APEX now becomes a project solely of the MPIfR.
www.eso.org/public/video...
🔭
Once a joint project of the Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR), the Onsala Space Observatory and ESO, APEX now becomes a project solely of the MPIfR.
www.eso.org/public/video...
🔭
#TourESO 📹🔴 5 more minutes and we'll virtually explore our La Silla Observatory! Will you join us? 🙂
Streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ESOobservatory/
📷 B. Wilmart/ESO
Streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ESOobservatory/
📷 B. Wilmart/ESO
December 27, 2025 at 1:56 PM
#TourESO 📹🔴 5 more minutes and we'll virtually explore our La Silla Observatory! Will you join us? 🙂
Streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ESOobservatory/
📷 B. Wilmart/ESO
Streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ESOobservatory/
📷 B. Wilmart/ESO
The Eagle Nebula is a dazzling stellar nursery. In it, a cluster of massive, hot stars, NGC 6611, has just been born.
The powerful light and strong winds from these massive new arrivals are shaping light-year long pillars.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso0926/ 🔭
📷 ESO
The powerful light and strong winds from these massive new arrivals are shaping light-year long pillars.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso0926/ 🔭
📷 ESO
December 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The Eagle Nebula is a dazzling stellar nursery. In it, a cluster of massive, hot stars, NGC 6611, has just been born.
The powerful light and strong winds from these massive new arrivals are shaping light-year long pillars.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso0926/ 🔭
📷 ESO
The powerful light and strong winds from these massive new arrivals are shaping light-year long pillars.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso0926/ 🔭
📷 ESO
This animation takes us to a Wolf–Rayet star in NGP–190387, a galaxy so far away its light took over 12 billion years to reach us.
Wolf–Rayet stars are hot and massive, and are thought to end in dramatic supernova explosions.
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2115/ 🔭
Wolf–Rayet stars are hot and massive, and are thought to end in dramatic supernova explosions.
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2115/ 🔭
December 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM
This animation takes us to a Wolf–Rayet star in NGP–190387, a galaxy so far away its light took over 12 billion years to reach us.
Wolf–Rayet stars are hot and massive, and are thought to end in dramatic supernova explosions.
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2115/ 🔭
Wolf–Rayet stars are hot and massive, and are thought to end in dramatic supernova explosions.
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2115/ 🔭
In the Atacama Desert, the average annual rainfall barely reaches 15 millimetres.
Yet it does, on very rare occasions, snow, as shown in this 2011 image of our VLT at Cerro Paranal ❄️ 🌨️
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1211a/
🔭 #flashback
📷 ESO/S. Guisard (www.eso.org/~sguisard)
Yet it does, on very rare occasions, snow, as shown in this 2011 image of our VLT at Cerro Paranal ❄️ 🌨️
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1211a/
🔭 #flashback
📷 ESO/S. Guisard (www.eso.org/~sguisard)
December 23, 2025 at 8:01 AM
In the Atacama Desert, the average annual rainfall barely reaches 15 millimetres.
Yet it does, on very rare occasions, snow, as shown in this 2011 image of our VLT at Cerro Paranal ❄️ 🌨️
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1211a/
🔭 #flashback
📷 ESO/S. Guisard (www.eso.org/~sguisard)
Yet it does, on very rare occasions, snow, as shown in this 2011 image of our VLT at Cerro Paranal ❄️ 🌨️
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1211a/
🔭 #flashback
📷 ESO/S. Guisard (www.eso.org/~sguisard)
Happiest of holidays from ESO!
With all the discoveries made, milestones achieved & pictures captured, 2025 has been another successful year. We're excitedly looking ahead for the next one to come.
Until then, we wish you restful holidays and a happy new year!
🔭
📹 ESO
With all the discoveries made, milestones achieved & pictures captured, 2025 has been another successful year. We're excitedly looking ahead for the next one to come.
Until then, we wish you restful holidays and a happy new year!
🔭
📹 ESO
December 22, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Happiest of holidays from ESO!
With all the discoveries made, milestones achieved & pictures captured, 2025 has been another successful year. We're excitedly looking ahead for the next one to come.
Until then, we wish you restful holidays and a happy new year!
🔭
📹 ESO
With all the discoveries made, milestones achieved & pictures captured, 2025 has been another successful year. We're excitedly looking ahead for the next one to come.
Until then, we wish you restful holidays and a happy new year!
🔭
📹 ESO
Construction of the southern array of CTAO – the world’s largest & most powerful gamma-ray observatory – has kicked off at Paranal.
Read about the groundbreaking ceremony: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2521
Discover CTAO with #ChasingStarlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKRazLrvUNQ
🔭 🧪
Read about the groundbreaking ceremony: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2521
Discover CTAO with #ChasingStarlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKRazLrvUNQ
🔭 🧪
December 18, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Construction of the southern array of CTAO – the world’s largest & most powerful gamma-ray observatory – has kicked off at Paranal.
Read about the groundbreaking ceremony: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2521
Discover CTAO with #ChasingStarlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKRazLrvUNQ
🔭 🧪
Read about the groundbreaking ceremony: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2521
Discover CTAO with #ChasingStarlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKRazLrvUNQ
🔭 🧪
An example of a dark nebula: the Pipe Nebula.
Originally, astronomers believed these were areas with no stars. But dark nebulae actually consist of clouds of interstellar dust so thick it can block out the light from the stars beyond.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1233/ 🔭
📷 ESO
Originally, astronomers believed these were areas with no stars. But dark nebulae actually consist of clouds of interstellar dust so thick it can block out the light from the stars beyond.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1233/ 🔭
📷 ESO
December 18, 2025 at 1:04 PM
An example of a dark nebula: the Pipe Nebula.
Originally, astronomers believed these were areas with no stars. But dark nebulae actually consist of clouds of interstellar dust so thick it can block out the light from the stars beyond.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1233/ 🔭
📷 ESO
Originally, astronomers believed these were areas with no stars. But dark nebulae actually consist of clouds of interstellar dust so thick it can block out the light from the stars beyond.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1233/ 🔭
📷 ESO
Enjoy this trip to NGC 1850, a cluster of stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
This cluster harbours the first small black hole outside of our galaxy to be discovered by looking at its gravitational influence on the path of the star orbiting it
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2116/ 🔭
This cluster harbours the first small black hole outside of our galaxy to be discovered by looking at its gravitational influence on the path of the star orbiting it
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2116/ 🔭
December 17, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Enjoy this trip to NGC 1850, a cluster of stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
This cluster harbours the first small black hole outside of our galaxy to be discovered by looking at its gravitational influence on the path of the star orbiting it
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2116/ 🔭
This cluster harbours the first small black hole outside of our galaxy to be discovered by looking at its gravitational influence on the path of the star orbiting it
Read more: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2116/ 🔭
Our new SOXS instrument has made its first observations!
Installed at La Silla, it will observe fleeting cosmic events such as supernovae explosions or fast-moving asteroids.
https://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann25011/
🔭 🧪
#instrumentation
📷 P. Schipani/INAF
Installed at La Silla, it will observe fleeting cosmic events such as supernovae explosions or fast-moving asteroids.
https://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann25011/
🔭 🧪
#instrumentation
📷 P. Schipani/INAF
December 16, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Our new SOXS instrument has made its first observations!
Installed at La Silla, it will observe fleeting cosmic events such as supernovae explosions or fast-moving asteroids.
https://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann25011/
🔭 🧪
#instrumentation
📷 P. Schipani/INAF
Installed at La Silla, it will observe fleeting cosmic events such as supernovae explosions or fast-moving asteroids.
https://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann25011/
🔭 🧪
#instrumentation
📷 P. Schipani/INAF