ALMA data can now be accessed through the ALMA Science Portal.  Public data, i.e. currently Cycle 0 data that are out of the 12 month proprietary period, can be accessed anonymously.

The Phase 3 validator has been expanded and is now ready to verify VST OmegaCAM DR1 data. The changes are fully described on the Phase 3 web pages.

The PIs of the VST Public Surveys and their teams can now test their data products against the ESO Science Data Products Standard (Issue 5, 11.01.2013).

As of ESO Observing Period 91, the ESO Science Archive Facility (SAF) is the sole access point for data obtained with ESO telescopes. This includes access to proprietary data for both Visitor and Service Mode runs.

The ESO research studentship programme provides an outstanding opportunity for Ph.D. students to experience the exciting scientific environment at one of the world's leading observatories for a period of up to two years.

Science verification of the X-shooter data products for SLIT mode observations has been completed. Issues with the data products, such as the noise model, bad pixel propagation and interpolation, and flux calibration, were found and a new improved version of the pipeline has been released and can be downloaded.

Improved flux standards and a more detailed pipeline tutorial will be released in the second quarter of 2013.

On 13 March 2013 from 11:30òÀÓ13:00 CLST (15:30òÀÓ17:00 CET), the official inauguration of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) will take place at the observatoryòÀÙs Operations Support Facility (OSF) at the Chajnantor Plateau, in the Chilean Andes.

ALMA Observatory will accept submission of Director's Discretionary Time (DDT) proposals from 1 March 2013. In Cycle 1, a maximum of 5% of the total observation time available may be dedicated to the execution of DDT programmes.

A description of proposals eligible for DDT and the applicable policies are available. ALMA DDT requests can be submitted here.

A new and more powerful laser has successfully been tested at the Paranal Observatory and formally accepted. This new laser source, called PARLA, forms a vital part of the VLT Laser Guide Star Facility (LGSF),  currently used by the adaptive optics instruments NACO and SINFONI on  UT4.