Imaging Surveys at the VLT Survey Telescope

The VLT Survey Telescope (VST) is one of the most efficient wide-field optical imagers, significantly contributing to our understanding of the universe. By capturing the night sky with unprecedented precision, VST has provided astronomers with valuable data covering a wide range of astrophysical phenomena, from distant galaxies and galaxy clusters to objects within our own Milky Way.

We are pleased to announce the first data release, OMEGACAM_INAF DR1. The dataset, gathered using high-resolution imaging techniques, spans a wide range of celestial objects, from distant galaxies’ clusters to nearby galaxies and star clusters. The observations have been conducted by using almost all the VST filters, e.g. u,g,r,i,z,H_⍺, allowing for precise photometric measurements and detailed color analyses of the captured objects, enhancing the dataset’s utility for researchers exploring various astrophysical phenomena.  It consists of: 

• Reduced single-epoch images

• Co-added images

• Associated data products

The dataset also includes some data collected before the new INAF-ESO agreement (2022-2027, renewable).

Accessing the Data

For instructions on how to download the DR1, please visit the official ESO release page:

http://archive.eso.org/cms/eso-archive-news/release-of-vst-omegacam-imaging-products-from-the-collaboration-with-inaf.html

Official ESO Announcements

http://www.eso.org/sci/observing/phase3/news.html#VST_INAF

Future Releases

We plan to release newly reduced data twice a year, adding new survey projects and complementing the existing datasets.

Download the Data Release 1 documentation (PDF)