From the very beginning of humanity, we looked at the sky and reflected on the impressive mysteries of the universe.
First, we explained our rudimentary observations of heaven by myths and superstitions. With the advent of the scientific method of research, we learned that space cannot be explained by fictions. Observation and theory brought the realization that we are occupying a planet orbiting a certain star — one of countless billions of other stars — in a spiral galaxy in an ordinary region in a vast space that we now know as the Universe, 14 billion years old.
Although we are just starting our epic quest to explore the true nature of time, space, energy and matter, humankind has come a long way since the invention of the telescope and the fundamental realization that gravity dictates the movement of the planets as it dictates the fate of the universe. Now we have powerful colliders of particles that study the fundamental properties of the structure of matter and space-time. And we equipped our planet with "eyes" to observe some of the most distant (and, therefore, the most ancient) structures in the Universe.
A bird's eye view of the Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory
The fact that we consider ourselves to be a smart (and to some extent technologically advanced) form of life, despite our terrible flaws, is our inherent ability to take into account not only the nature of our Universe, but also the question of our place in it. We live in the golden age of science, and at the very edge of astronomical discoveries are robotized eyes, through which we can now see deeper than ever into the cosmic abyss. Some of the most powerful eyes of our planet are located in Chile, where a group of powerful observatories operate in continuous mode. Managed by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), a collaboration of 16 Member States based in Germany has facilities in Chile that include the Paranal Observatory (home to The Very Large Telescope) and La Silla Observatory. ESO is also a partner in the amazing project Atakam large millimeter / submillimeter assembly (ALMA), which was opened in 2013. ALMA is the largest and most powerful observatory on the planet.
And on Friday, I join DNews cameraman Alex Gerhard for a flight to Chile to visit ESO facilities as part of the #MeetESO event, which will be attended by seven other international participants enjoying exclusive access to telescopes and observation sites high in the Atacama desert. Why next week? Because on May 9, the transit of Mercury will occur, and we will be there to watch the heavenly dance from a region that, frankly, is not of this world.
This is a view of the Chahnantor Plateau, located at an altitude of 5000 meters in the Chilean Andes, where the array of antennas ALMA is located
Personally, I saw a lot of telescopes in my time, but, like the other #MeetESO participants, this will be a trip of a lifetime. I covered the incredible science of ESO telescopes for Discovery News, so I am pleased to see not only these monuments of human ingenuity at close range, but also to talk with people who are carrying out breathtaking research. And by the way, transit Mercury in stock - not bad! Depending on the Internet connection availability, I will take notes via Twitter (via @Discovery_Space and @astroengine), Instagram (@astroengine), Facebook (Discovery News) and may be able to make a live Facebook feed using the Science Channel. I will also blog here when possible. And of course there will be a series of DNews videos about the event. So stay tuned in all these places when I fly to Santiago on Friday, May 6th. Of course, if you have any questions, tips or suggestions, please let me know.
Based on Discovery News.
