Free Astronomy Magazine November-December 2018

18 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2018 SPACE CHRONICLES Ireland to join the European Southern Observatory by ESO I rish astronomers are set to gain access to the world’s most ad- vanced ground-based astronomical tele- scopes following the signature of Ireland’s Accession Agreement in Dublin today, 26 September 2018. The signing of the Agreement follows the unanimous ap- proval of Irish mem- bership by the ESO Council at a meeting on 6 June 2018. The formal ratification process for Irish membership of ESO has already almost been completed, following the approval of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann — the Irish National Assembly and Senate. This process will be fully completed once the in- strument of ratification — an official document — is deposited at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is expected to happen within T he Irish flag is hoisted for the first time at ESO’s Headquarters in Garching bei München, Ger- many, signifying Ireland becoming a Member State of ESO once the ratification process is com- plete. The flag joins those of the other Member States, taking the total number up to 16. [ESO] a matter of days. The day of the de- posit will be the official date of the Irish accession to ESO. “We are delighted to welcome Ire- land as the newest member of our organisation” stated ESO’s Director General, Xavier Barcons. “Ireland’s mature and thriving astronomical community will add to the broad va- riety of expertise in the ESO Member States, strengthening ESO’s position at the forefront of global astron- omy. Irish astronomers will gain ac- cess to a suite of the world’s most advanced ground-based astronomi- cal telescopes and will have the op- portunity to be part of the con- struction of the next generation of ESO instruments in partnership with other ESO Member States. We are also very much looking forward to working with Irish industrial part- ners to build and operate ESO’s state-of-the-art telescopes.”