ESO's Very Large Telescope Goes 3D on German Television

National Geographic has acquired the rights for Das Auge 3D (The Eye 3D), the first three-dimensional documentary produced in Germany [1]. The film will be broadcast on SKY 3D on 9 December at 20:15 (local time) in 3D television and again during the same evening at 21:10 (local time) on the German National Geographic Channel in 2D, bringing the story of the most powerful visible-light telescope in the world, ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), directly into people’s homes.

The Eye 3D — Life and Research at Cerro Paranal stars ESOcast host Dr J, aka Joe Liske, who takes viewers on an exciting tour, introducing the magnificent telescope itself and the advanced techniques in use at Paranal, as well as taking a look at the daily life of astronomers, engineers, physicists and technicians working at the ESO sites.

The documentary has recently won several awards, including the Gold Award in the 3D category from ITVA (Integrated TV & Video Association) and Best Picture at the Dimension3 Festival in Paris. It was also shown at the 24th Braunschweig International Film Festival.

The movie is still touring German schools, where showings are introduced by either the director or participating scientists. Contact Parallax for booking information.

To explore ESO’s VLT before watching the movie, take a virtual tour of the four Unit Telescopes, Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, examine the dust and rocks of the arid Atacama Desert or switch to night mode and admire the Milky Way and the beauty of the southern skies.

Notes

[1] Directed by Nikolai Vialkowitsch, the movie was produced by parallax raumprojektion and fact&film in collaboration with ESO. The film was co-financed by the film subsidy agencies of the German federal states of Baden-Württemberg and Bremen, several charitable and public organisations and ESO. It was a Special Project of the International Year of Astronomy 2009.

More Information

ESO, the European Southern Observatory, is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world’s most productive astronomical observatory. It is supported by 14 countries: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. 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. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world’s most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and VISTA, the world’s largest survey telescope. ESO is the European partner of a revolutionary astronomical telescope ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. ESO is currently planning a 42-metre European Extremely Large optical/near-infrared Telescope, the E-ELT, which will become “the world’s biggest eye on the sky”.

Courtesy of European Southern Observatory

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