The Messenger Telescopes and Instrumentation

Effects of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha‘apai Volcanic Eruption on Observations at Paranal Observatory

No. 190 (March 2023), 58–61

Authors
  • De Rosa, Robert J. [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
  • Otarola, Angel [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
  • Szeifert, Thomas [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
  • Smoker, Jonathan [European Southern Observatory (ESO); UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, UK]
  • Selman, Fernando [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
  • Mehner, Andrea [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
  • Bian, Fuyan [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
  • Sedaghati, Elyar [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
  • Seidel, Julia Victoria [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
  • Smette, Alain [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
  • de Wit, Willem-Jan [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
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Section
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Abstract

The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha‘apai volcano erupted on 15 January 2022 with an energy equivalent to around 61 megatons of TNT. The explosion was bigger than any other volcanic eruption so far in the 21st century. Huge quantities of particles, including dust and water vapour, were released into the atmosphere. We present the results of a preliminary study of the effects of the explosion on observations taken at Paranal Observatory using a range of instruments. These effects were not immediately transitory in nature, and a year later stunning sunsets are still being seen at Paranal.

DOI
Bibcode
2023Msngr.190...58R
Dates
Created: 2023-03-01/2023-03-31
Length
4 pages
Rights
Copyright European Southern Observatory

Cite this article:

De Rosa, R., Otarola, A., Szeifert, T., Smoker, J., Selman, F., Mehner, A., Bian, F., Sedaghati, E., Seidel, J., Smette, A., de Wit, W.; Effects of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha‘apai Volcanic Eruption on Observations at Paranal Observatory. The Messenger 190 (March 2023): 58–61. https://doi.org/10.18727/0722-6691/5315