Europe to the Stars: ESO's First 50 Years of Exploring the Southern Sky (2012)

It all began in 1962 with the signing of the ESO convention - the culmination of the dream of leading astronomers from five European countries, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden. Fifty years later, these original dreams have become reality thanks to ESO's commitment to the mission. Europe to the Stars portrays the story of this epic adventure - a story of cosmic curiosity, courage and perseverance. The story of discovering a Universe of deep mysteries and hidden secrets, and the story of designing, building and operating the most powerful ground-based telescopes on the planet. The documentary movie consists of eight chapters, each focusing on essential aspects of ESO's history. From ESO's birth to explaining how telescopes are built and used, Europe to the Stars gives a unique perspective on how astronomy has evolved along with our understanding of the Universe.