Winter AstroCamp 2018 applications open

ESO and its Science Outreach Network are collaborating with the science education event organiser Sterrenlab and the Astronomical Observatory of the Autonomous Region of the Aosta Valley (OAVdA) to organise the sixth ESO Astronomy Camp. The camp will take place from 26 December 2018 to 1 January 2019, in the Aosta Valley, Italy.

The camp will explore the theme of exoplanets in several astronomical sessions, including lectures, hands-on activities and nighttime observations with the telescopes and instruments at the observatory. Social activities, winter sports and excursions will contribute to making the camp a memorable experience for the participants. ESO and OAVdA will be responsible for the scientific programme of the ESO Astronomy Camp, and together with several other partners will provide lecturers and material.

The registration fee of €550 covers full-board accommodation at the hostel in Saint Barthélemy, supervision by professional staff, all astronomical and leisure activities, materials, excursions, internal transport and insurance. Bus transport between the observatory and Milan Malpensa airport will also be provided. The fee does not include pocket money, travel costs to and from Milan Malpensa, (non-emergency) phone calls and anything not listed above.

The camp will accommodate a maximum of 56 secondary school students born in the years 2000–2002 from ESO Member States and other ESO Science Outreach Network countries. A limited number of places will be available to students from other countries.

All students wishing to apply should fill out the form on the Camp web page and submit a video, in English and lasting no longer than three minutes, on the theme of “I would like to invent/discover… because…”, by 23:00 CET on 1 October 2018.

Judges will select one applicant from an ESO Member State to receive a bursary offered by ESO that will cover the complete cost of the camp, including transportation. In addition, several national partners will also provide support to the best applications from students residing in their respective countries. The list of these national partners is as follows:

• NOVA, the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy: the Netherlands
• Polish Astronomical Society and Polish Children’s Fund: Poland
• Royal Astronomical Society: United Kingdom
• Swedish Astronomical Society: Sweden
• Katholieke Universiteit Leuven: Belgium
• Eyuboglu High School: Turkey
• German Astronomical Society: Germany
• INAF – Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica: Italy

Please consult the Camp web page as this list is being updated regularly.

The selection of the bursary winners and names of successful paying candidates will be communicated by 19 October 2018. Participants will need to confirm by 26 October 2018 that they will attend the Camp. The selection criteria and other instructions for participation are provided on the Camp web page.

More information

The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre

The ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre is a cooperation between the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS). The building is a donation from the Klaus Tschira Stiftung (KTS), a German foundation, and ESO runs the facility.

Courtesy of European Southern Observatory