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Media Invite - UK joins the European Southern Observatory

June 26, 2002

To mark the occasion of the UK joining the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and thereby gaining access to some of the most advanced telescope facilities in the world a press briefing will be held at the Royal Observatory Greenwich (ROG) on Monday 8th July at 3.00 p.m.

This is your opportunity to hear from the key players involved from ESO, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) and the UK astronomy community. Joining ESO will give the UK access to a suite of world class telescope facilities in Chile including the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at Paranal, increased involvement in Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA) and the future Overwhelmingly Large Telescope (OWL).

Speakers will include:-

Lord Sainsbury - Minister for Science
Professor Freytag - President of ESO Council
Dr Catherine Cesarsky - Director General of ESO
Professor Ian Halliday - Chief Executive of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council
Professor Gerry Gilmore - Cambridge University and the UK representative on ESO Council
Dr Patrick Roche - Oxford University, UK Observer on ESO Science and Technology Committee

The press briefing starts at 3.00 p.m. in the Octagon Room at the Royal Observatory Greenwich (registration from 2.30 p.m.). You have the opportunity to either go direct to ROG or join ESO Council Members and speakers at Tower Pier (adjacent to Trinity House, London) at 13:45 for the boat journey to Greenwich. For the return trip the Boat will leave Greenwich Pier at 16:20. Please note that only those who book in advance will be able to go on the boat as space is limited.

ESO will be holding its Council Meeting in London on 8th - 9th July.

To confirm whether you will be attending this event please contact Gill Ormrod at PPARC on 01793 442012 or email gill.ormrod@pparc.ac.uk Please state whether you will be going direct to ROG or going on the boat trip.

Please let Gill Ormrod know in advance of bids for interviews with any of the speakers.

All TV channels will be issued with a Video News Release by Friday 28th June, which includes interviews with The Astronomer Royal Sir Martin Rees and Sir Patrick Moore plus amazing footage of the ESO Telescope facilities.

Extra copies of this video are available from the PPARC Press Office. Telephone Gill Ormrod on 01793 442012.

UK Accession to ESO - Press Briefing Programme

13.45 hrs       Delegates and media representatives assemble at Tower Pier (adjacent to Trinity House).

14.00 hrs       Boat departs Tower Pier for Greenwich Pier
       Opportunity to speak informally with key speakers

14 30 hrs   Registration for press going direct to ROG

14.40 hrs       Boat arrives at Greenwich Pier, coaches to Observatory

14.55 hrs   Delegates and press arrive at the Observatory

15.00 hrs   Press briefing begins in the Octagon Room. Opportunity for questions and individual interviews.

15.55 hrs       Speakers and ESO Council Members assemble at Prime Meridian Time Line for photo shoot. Coach departs ROG to return to Greenwich Pier

16.20 hrs       Boat departs Greenwich for Tower Pier

17:00 hrs       Boat arrives Tower Pier

Details of how to get to the Royal Observatory Greenwich can be found at

http://www.nmm.ac.uk/visitors/travel_info.html

Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC)