ESO Science Archive Databases Archive Facility HOME ESO HOME    FAQ

The ESO Science Archive offers a number of on-line information services relevant to ESO users and to the community at large. A section on frequently asked questions provides additional guidance on the use of the Sience Archive Facility.

ESO Observations Database

The ESO Science Archive Database contains the description of all observations performed with

• SOFI, SUSI2, EMMI on the NTT telescope since April 1, 1997
• Wide Field Imager, FEROS on the MPG-ESO 2.2m Telescope since January 1999
• EFOSC2, TIMMI2, CES, HARPS on the ESO 3.6m Telescope since August 1999
• VLT Telescopes and instruments since April 1, 1999

Dedicated query forms can be used to query the archive by instrument specific parameters

• FORS1 (optical imager and low dispersion spectrograph).
  This data view features: DIMM seeing query and viewer, auto selection of calibrations for requested science frames, FITS header viewer.

• FORS2 (optical imager and low dispersion spectrograph).
  This data view features: DIMM seeing query and viewer, auto selection of calibrations for requested science frames, FITS header viewer.

• UVES (ultraviolet-visual echelle spectrograph [300-1100 nm]).
  This data view features: DIMM seeing query and viewer, auto selection of calibrations for requested science frames, FITS header viewer.

• ISAAC stacks (infrared imaging and spectroscopy [1-5µm]).
  This data view features: grouping of all frames of a stack into a single record, DIMM seeing query and viewer, FITS header viewer.

• NACO (adaptive optics assisted imaging, imaging polarimetry, coronography and spectroscopy [1-5µm]).
  This data view features: DIMM seeing query and viewer, FITS header viewer.

• GIRAFFE (medium-high resolution optical fibre spectrograph [370-900 nm] with multi-object [Medusa mode] and IFU capabilities [IFU, Argus modes]). GIRAFFE is part of the FLAMES facility which can also feed UVES.
  This data view features: DIMM seeing query and viewer, FITS header viewer.

Query forms for other instruments are in preparation.

VLT Query Form

NTT/WFI/3.6 Query Form

All science observations have a proprietary period of one year. Data sets can be requested after the proprietary period by the astronomical community of the ESO member states and Chile.

To request data you have to register as an ESO/ST-ECF Archive user. A request can be submitted following the instructions in the results table. The status of data requests can be tracked with request check tool.

Public Data Packages

This page provides an entry point to all data packages released by ESO. It includes among other, links to VLT Science Verification data, EIS and other public surveys, HDF from the Hubble Space Telescope, etc.

Ambient Conditions Database

The ESO Ambient Conditions Database includes measurements of environmental parameters at both ESO observatories, La Silla and Paranal.
Query Form

Observation Programme Schedule

The schedule of observations is prepared for a six months period (April to September and October to March) by the ESO Observing Programme Committee. The schedule for the coming period is published after the selection procedure and is updated regularly to reflect changes and updates.
Query Form

ESOLV Uppsala Galaxies

The Archive of the ESO Lauberts-Valentijn Galaxies contains image scans of 14,155 galaxies defined with DEC < -17:5O and a visual diameter larger than 1 arcmin from the ESO Quick Blue Schmidt survey plates. The catalogue was published in 1989 and provides information on the positions, morphological types, diameters, axial ratios and position angles (Lauberts A., Valentijn E.A.: The Surface Photometry Catalogue of the ESO-Uppsala Galaxies, ESO 1989).
Query Form

Clichotheque, the Spectral Plates database

The log book of spectroscopic plates obtained at ESO telescopes until 1984. This log is probably incomplete. The plates themselves have been given to the observers and no copy is kept at ESO. Unfortunately, there is no possibility to provide the current affiliation or the address of the plate owner.
Query Form

ESO Schmidt Plates Database

The catalog of Plates observed with the ESO Schmidt Telescope.
Query Form

Preprints available at the ESO libraries

List of available preprints at the ESO Libraries. This list is regularly updated. It is also available as a printed document.
Query Form

Publications of the community of ESO Users

Papers published by the ESO User's community mainly in refereed journals and conference proceedings. This list is obtained by scanning the main astronomical journals for papers that refer to data obtained with ESO telescopes or are published by ESO Staff (fellows and students included). This list is regularly updated. It is also printed yearly as an Annex to the ESO annual report. The results offer navigation links to the Astrophysics Abstracts.
Query Form

ADS Astrophysics Abstracts

The Astrophysics Data System (ADS) is a NASA-funded project whose main resource is an Abstract Service, which includes four sets of abstracts:

• astronomy and astrophysics, containing over 460,000 abstracts;
• instrumentation, containing over 510,000 abstracts;
• physics and geophysics, containing over 425,000 abstracts;
• Los Alamos preprint server, containing over 3,300 abstracts.

Each dataset can be searched by author, object name (astronomy only), title, or abstract text words.

These databases are now available from the ESO mirror web site.