munich

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) must tighten its belt this year to keep construction of its important new project, the Very Large Telescope (VLT), on schedule.

This follows a move by ESO's council to cut 2.5 per cent from the organization's budget for 1998 in response to heavy cuts in France's support for ‘big science’ projects (see above).

But ESO is optimistic that the shortfall will not disrupt its science programme. “We handled a five per cent cut last year when Germany had budgetary problems,” says Norbert König, ESO's administrative director, “and we will handle the new cut”. He adds, however, that ESO would find it difficult to respond to regular cuts every time one of its member states has a budgetary crisis.

Operation of the first of VLT's telescopes is still scheduled for May, with full interferometry expected in 2003. But the possible withdrawal of France from the building of key elements of the interferometry system means that ESO must find new partners if it is to keep to its timetable.

ESO is also looking ahead to its scientific goals after VLT. One decision to be taken in the next year or so is how far to collaborate with the United States on plans for large-millimetre-array telescopes.

But ESO will also consider its general role in European astronomy, seeking a balance with national astronomy programmes.

It is keeping the debate low-key because of the issue's sensitivity. Opinion is polarized between those who think a larger fraction of national astronomy budgets should be targeted towards ESO, and those who see a need to maintain strong independent national programmes.