what does it take to be professional
astronomer working with the world's most
powerful telescopes producing top-notch
science how does it feel to be working
in exotic locations and collaborating
with astronomers from around the world
stay tuned to this is so cost to go
behind the scenes of an Easter
astronomer at work in Chile
this is the esocast cutting-edge science
and life behind the scenes of ESO the
European Southern Observatory exploring
the ultimate frontier with our host dr.
J aka dr. Joe Liske
hello and welcome to another episode of
the esocast today we're going to follow
around ESO staff astronomer and we
perform to find out what his work is
like at the Paranal Observatory in Chile
now he's work is exciting but it's also
challenging because it involves
traveling for thousands of kilometres
between his duty stations and yes to
adjust quite quickly between working
during the day like most people and
working nighttime shifts at the
telescope and when he's not at the
observatory
he works at those Santiago offices this
is where he conducts his scientific
research and where he meets colleagues
from all over the world
early morning in Santiago the capital of
Chile and a taxi is driving the
scientists to the airport where he will
fly to antofagasta some 1,300 kilometres
north of Santiago during the flight or
we take the opportunity to check his
work schedule for the forthcoming days
or read scientific papers
two kilometers of the 2i right follow
the coastal road through antofagasta but
soon the bus heads into the Attic ama
desert where seemingly endless Road
awaits the passengers
finally after a long and tiring journey
Erin I'll comes into sight even for
ollie who frequently commutes to the
observatory the arrival at this
technological oasis amidst the Dryad
tacoma desert is spectacular
after the long journey and he
immediately heads over to the residencia
which is his home away from home while
use on duty at the observatory after
lunch only takes a quick peek at the
remarkable sight of the VLT which stands
out on the summit of parallel now the
coming night is going to be a so-called
overlap night
this is well he gets to adjust to
working at night and where he's going to
meet with his colleagues in the VLT
control room to properly prepare for his
shift so getting some sleep in the
afternoon is pretty essential
after a refreshing sleep and as the Sun
begins to set only meets his colleague
Jonathan smoker who will hand over his
observational tasks
several things need to be discussed in
order to guarantee a smooth staff
changeover and the drive from the
residencia up to the control building of
the VLT offers a great opportunity for
the astronomers to talk business
the VLT consists of four unit telescopes
and all the and Jonathan take over the
controls of unit telescope one they
discuss upcoming observations and the
status of the telescope and instruments
until they're confident that everything
has been set up perfectly
once fully prepared for the Knights
observations all the and Jonathan have
to do is wait for darkness and enjoy the
magnificent view from the platform of by
now
it's the next day and only is ready to
take over observations after having
slept until late afternoon in the
residential now prepares himself for his
upcoming night shift dinner at the
residences canteen or rather breakfast
vee gives an opportunity to socialize
with his colleagues before he heads off
to the VLT control room tonight only
performs observations in service mode at
the VLT unit telescope one in this mode
on V and the telescope operator conduct
observations that have been submitted
remotely by astronomers from the home
Institute's around the world
observations at the VLT call for the
utmost concentration on the part of the
astronomer and the telescope operator
all the carefully follows the prepared
observing programme and switches between
the various instruments everything is
planned to enjoy the smooth running of
the telescope as observing time on this
powerful telescope is a precious
commodity
before only can leave the control
building at the end of his shift tonight
report has to be competed with details
of the observations
now only can head back to the residencia
for well-deserved daytime sleep
the scheduler power now is quite
demanding but only find the time to fit
in some exercise and the desert around
the observatory is quite a harsh
environment but only is an experienced
runner was accustomed to the altitude
and arid conditions later that day he
meets to visiting astronomers at the
residencia have come to Chile to hunt
for exoplanets using the VLT now for
tonight's observations we will act as
support a strong up that means that he's
going to use this experience to help the
visiting astronomers carry out their
observations in their hunt for
exoplanets the visiting astronomers will
look for the dimming of light as a
planet moves behind its parent star this
technique can enable the detection of
planetary atmospheres but such
observations are incredibly difficult
and require large instruments
that's why the astronomers have come to
parallel to use one of its 8.2 me to
telescopes
after several nights on parallel movie
has handed over his observing
responsibilities to a colleague and now
he's ready to fly back home to Santiago
bakit easy as chilean administrative
center at vita career Santiago
all these switches back to daytime work
and studies binary star systems
working at vita current means that
although you can discuss his research
with colleagues the daily coffee break
provides the perfect opportunity to
share ideas about later scientific
results and findings such casual
conversations among scientists can often
lead to new and unexpected insights
this is where we say goodbye to a movie
and thank you for allowing us to be a
fly on the wall during his work being a
nice astronomer is demanding but it's
also extremely rewarding working on one
of the most powerful ground-based
telescopes in the world this is dr j
signing off for the esocast
join me again next time for another
cosmic adventure
history about the only person around it
doesn't have TV coverage of the got the
black up now you're gonna kill us we are
getting a TV picture village and one
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