Research & development Nov 26, 2015

Cutting-edge research made in Bavaria

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world’s most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. At its headquarters in Garching near Munich a new visitor centre with the name ESO Supernova is built right now in a unique design.

ESO is supported by 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. The organisation operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile and operates there for example the Very Large Telescope (VLT), the world’s most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory.


The new visitor centre in Garching will provide guests with a spectacular showcase for astronomy in general, and for ESO’s scientific results, projects, and technological breakthroughs. All content will be provided in both English and German. The new building’s unique design will resemble the form of a binary star system transferring mass from one component to the other, which will lead to a supernova. This is also reflected in the name of the facility: ESO Supernova.