Two exoplanets near a star and a graph. To confirm that this new object is indeed a planet and not an extended clump of material within the disc, astronomers observed it with the GRAVITY+ instrument at the VLT Interferometer (VLTI). The VLTI combines the light of several telescopes and is therefore sensitive to very small details. Using GRAVITY+, the team confirmed that that the new object is a point-like source and not an extended cloud within the disc.

Rare Discovery of Two Protoplanets
 

Using the GRAVITY instrument on the ESO’s VLT Interferometer, astronomers have confirmed the existence of the protoplanet WISPIT 2c. This new discovery offers rare insights into planet formation and shows that planetary systems can form in parallel.
A moon and a planet next to each other

Conditions suitable for life on distant moons

Even in the darkness of space, life could be possible: A team of researchers from the ORIGINS Cluster has shown that moons of free-floating planets can keep their oceans liquid for billions of years.
Large Binocular Telescope on Mount Graham, Arizona, USA in front of starry sky.

Measuring the expansion of the universe with cosmic fireworks

Munich astronomers image and model extremely rare gravitationally lensed supernova
Four observatories atop a hill project multiple laser beams into a deep blue, star-filled night sky, suggesting astronomical observation.

Paranal: Night Sky Secured – A Triumph for the Astronomers’ Protest

Protest by Nobel Laureate Professor Reinhard Genzel and the Astronomy Community proves successful: Industry project canceled.
A molecular model with colored atoms is set against a dramatic orange and red nebula, suggesting a scientific exploration theme.

New insights into the origins of the chemistry of life

Astrophysicists Discover Largest Sulfur-Containing Molecular Compound in Space
Multiple observatory telescopes with laser beams directed at the night sky under clear conditions, highlighting modern astronomical research equipment.

Dawn of a New Era of Interferometry with GRAVITY+

Beginning of November 2025, four lasers were fired into the sky above ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile, each creating an artificial star to help astronomers measure and correct atmospheric blur. This impressive launch, one from each 8-meter telescope, marks a key milestone of the GRAVITY+ project, led by MPE, significantly enhancing the VLTI’s ability to observe fainter objects and cover more of the southern sky.
Euclid's morphological classification shows various galaxy types, including ellipticals, lenticulars, spirals, barred spirals, and irregular dwarfs.

Euclid Sheds Light on How Galaxies Form and Transform

ESA’s space telescope captures the astonishing diversity of galaxies – and MPE scientists trace how mergers shape their cores
Star field with multicolored spectral graphs illustrating intensity and wavelength data, highlighting cosmic elements.

4MOST Begins its Journey of Cosmic Discovery

First light marks the start of an ambitious mission to decode the physical and chemical fingerprints of thousands of celestial objects at once.

People and Project News

Upcoming events

Registration Deadline - AGN Feedback Across All Scales and Time

Apr 14, 2026 12:00 AM - 01:00 AM (Local Time Germany)

"Fundamentals of Deep Learning"

Apr 14, 2026 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Garching Campus, Room: Hörsaal, Building D2

"Characterizing the Interstellar Medium at the Galactic Center: The Role of Magnetic and Stellar Feedback"

Apr 14, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Local Time Germany)
ESO Garching, Room: Auditorium Telescopium (ESO HQE, Garching)
April 2026
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
"Multi-Scale Stellar Dynamics in Dense Clusters: From Planetary Debris to Black Hole Seeds"

Apr 7, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

"Loops in AdS and Renormalisation"

Apr 8, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

"UNIVERSE+ Online Seminars"

Apr 8, 2026 from 04:00 PM to 05:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

TBA

Apr 9, 2026 from 03:30 PM to 04:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Registration Deadline – MPCDF Deep Learning Workshop (Extended)

Apr 11, 2026 from 12:00 AM to 01:00 AM (Local Time Germany)

Registration Deadline - AGN Feedback Across All Scales and Time

Apr 14, 2026 from 12:00 AM to 01:00 AM (Local Time Germany)

"Fundamentals of Deep Learning"

Apr 14, 2026 from 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

"How to Propose for PLATO to Open Time?"

Apr 14, 2026 from 03:00 PM to 04:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

"ESOFinder: An LLM-Powered Tool to Help Users Navigate ESO Documentation"

Apr 15, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Local Time Germany)

Staff Meeting for PhD and Non-Permanent Staff

Apr 15, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

"When Rocks Become Batteries: The Future of Thermal Energy Storage"

Apr 15, 2026 from 01:00 PM to 02:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

"Influence of Dust on Physical Properties of Early-Type Galaxies"

Apr 16, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM (Local Time Germany)

"CN7 Dust Connector 'Kick Off'"

Apr 16, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

"From Sand to Silicon – How Modern Microchips Are Made"

Apr 16, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

"Piercing Deeper Into the Radio Universe - A MeerKAT Perspective"

Apr 16, 2026 from 03:15 PM to 04:15 PM (Local Time Germany)

"What is Life? Perspectives from Biology and Philosophy"

Apr 17, 2026 from 04:15 PM to 05:15 PM (Local Time Germany)

"Axion Birefringence: Probing Ultra-Light Particles With Polarized Light"

Apr 21, 2026 from 12:30 PM to 01:30 PM (Local Time Germany)

"A Cosmic Cocktail: From Molecules to Maps"

Apr 21, 2026 from 06:30 PM to 08:30 PM (Local Time Germany)

"Latest Results From the NIKA2 MM Camera"

Apr 27, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Job Offers

No Vacancies
Go to Editor View