ESO, the European Astronomy Organization, currently operates the world's leading research facilities within Earth-based astronomy, all located in Chile. These facilities are the La Silla Observatory and the Paro Observatory with ESA's Very Large Telescope (VLT).

A new observatory, under construction at the Chilean high plateau (Llano de Chajnantor), will accommodate the world's largest observatory of astronomical observations in the MM/SUBMM spectral range.

Finally, ESO has advanced plans for the construction of a new optical/NIR telescope with a mirror diameter of 42 m, the world's largest telescope.

The lecture will describe these facilities, as well as the research and technology associated with them and also look at the Danish share of this joint European project.