P. D. Lynam  

Schedule

2010-12-13--2010-12-28

Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages: Presenting in English with Confidence, MediaCom², Bangkok, Thailand.

2010-12-07

Visit to Bayfordbury Observatory¹, University of Hertfordshire, UK.

2010-11-25:

Public Outreach: Astronomy talk to IXth Loughborough Cub Scouts, UK.

2010-10-14--2010-10-15:

Visit of representatives of the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT)³ and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand to Paranal.

2010-10-12--2010-10-14: 33 miners rescued.

33 miners trapped by a cave-in since 5 August 2010 in the San Jose mine near Copiapo are rescued.

2010-09-23:

Defibrillator training.

2010-09-21--2010-09-27:

Shift Coordinator (Shift 58), Paranal [6 nights].

2010-09-11--2010-09-15:

Shift Coordinator (Shift 57), Paranal [4 nights].

2010-09-02--2010-09-03:

Visit of STS-61A astronaut Ernst Messerschmid to Paranal UT1 Antu.

2010-08-24--2010-09-03:

Night Operations Astronomer [UT1 Antu] (Shift 56), Paranal [10 nights].

2010-08-03--2010-08-14:

Night Operations Astronomer [UT1 Antu] (Shift 55), Paranal [11 nights].

2010-06-26--2010-08-01:

Home leave.

2010-06-15

ESO training seminar: Fair treatment, Courtesy and Respect.

2010-06-12--2010-06-25:

Night Operations Astronomer [UT3 Melipal] (Shift 54), Paranal [13 nights].

2010-05-30--2010-06-10:

Tour of California Observatories, US:

• Mount Hamilton: Lick Observatory.
• Big Bear Lake: Big Bear Solar Observatory.
• Mount Wilson: Mount Wilson Observatory; Hooker Telescope.
• Mount Palomar Observatory.

2010-05-20--2010-05-29:

Night Operations Astronomer [UT1 Antu] (Shift 53), Paranal [9 nights].

2010-05-06--2010-05-11:

Shift Coordinator, Paranal --- Cancelled.

2010-04-22--2010-05-01:

Night Operations Astronomer [UT1 Antu] (Shift 52), Paranal [9 nights].

2010-04-01:

End of Period 84. VISIR observations of Saturn.

2010-03-23--2010-04-01:

Night Operations Astronomer [UT3 Melipal] (Shift 51), Paranal [9 nights].

2010-02-27: Major Earthquake in Chile and aftermath:

At 03:34 local time on Saturday 27 February 2010, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Chile, with epicenter near the city of Concepcion. Hundreds of lives were lost. Buildings and infrastructure throughout the Southern half of Chile (including Santiago, Vina del Mar and Valparaiso) were damaged. The Chilean Government declared a state of catastrophe and all public transport in Chile was halted. Santiago International airport was closed, in the first instance, for 72 hours. Telephone communications (especially international and domestic cell connections) were limited and congested.

At over 1300 km from the epicenter, a weak, long-duration tremor was experienced at Paranal. While observations and facilities at Paranal were not significantly affected, internet access remained unavailable or highly unstable for almost 48 hours. Combined with the telecommunications issues, it was extremely difficult in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake for concerned staff on duty to contact family and colleagues in Santiago, Concepcion and other affected Southern areas. Observations and operations at Paranal continued nominally and according to schedule.

Transport schedules to Santiago to inspect damage to homes and start clearing-up were irregular, uncertain and continuously revised. LAN cancelled all pre-earthquake flight reservations. At Paranal and in Santiago, everyone acknowledges that we were extremely lucky during what was (especially for those in the Capital and further South) a very worrying experience.

On Thursday 4 March 2010, at 19:43, a long-duration aftershock felt at Paranal caused concern in Northern Chile. All was well.

On 11 March 2010, during inauguration ceremonies for new Chilean President, Sebastien Pinera, several strong aftershocks disturbed Santiaguinos.

2010-02-25--2010-03-06:

Shift Coordinator (Shift 50), Paranal [9 nights].

2010-01-25--2010-02-20:

On leave.

2010-01-08--2010-01-19:

Night Operations Astronomer [UT1 Antu / UT3 Melipal] (Shift 49), Paranal [11 nights].

References