Anni Kasikov Tšiilis
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Anni Kasikov
An Estonian PhD Student’s Unique Experience at a World-Class Observatory
Junior researcher at Tartu Observatory, Anni Kasikov, was given an extraordinary opportunity through the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) PhD programme – to spend a year in Chile and work at one of the world’s largest observatories.
Since the beginning of this year, Anni has been working at ESO’s office in Santiago, the capital of Chile, alongside an international group of PhD students and researchers from all over the world. Their research topics range from gravitational lenses and protostars to galaxies and the large-scale structure of the universe.
Their research topics range from gravitational lenses and protostars to galaxies and the large-scale structure of the universe. Anni says that “ESO's Santiago office is like a lifeline for observational astronomers. It’s a dynamic environment with weekly scientific talks and spontaneous discussions with other researchers.” She adds: “Astronomers from different backgrounds and experiences come together here to learn from one another, develop new ideas, and build strong international collaborations.”
Chilean observatories are globally valued for their low light pollution and favorable weather conditions. The Atacama Desert enjoys up to 300 clear nights per year, compared to just about 80 in Estonia.
What makes the experience even more special is that in addition to scientific work, Kasikov can observe how ESO’s powerful telescopes operate on a daily basis. “It involves much more than just research – from calibrating telescope instruments to checking the quality of observation data,” she explains. “Seeing how many people work hard to make it possible for astronomers worldwide to get their data with just a few clicks is incredibly inspiring.”
Anni first heard about the opportunity to apply from a friend. “When I saw that the application was open, I knew I had to try,” she says about the process. “My advice is to always try. People usually talk about their successes, not their failures. I had applied to another ESO programme before and didn’t get in. But if you never try, you’ll never succeed.”
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Her first assignment as a junior researcher was to write a telescope observation proposal – an application for observation time and data access using the VLT (Very Large Telescope). “Proposal calls take place twice a year and the competition is intense – the number of nights available is limited,” says Anni. “You need to submit a convincing scientific justification and a technical plan. Now all I can do is hope – there are many applications and the competition is tough.”
An Estonian PhD student´s Unforgettable Experience at a World-Class Observatory
Anni has had several remarkable opportunities to e xplore and work at some of the world’s leading scientific centers located in Chile. A visit to the Paranal Observatory was a particularly memorable experience. Located at an altitude of 2,600 meters in the Atacama Desert, it is home to four 8-meter VLT telescopes, as well as many smaller telescopes. Nearby, on the Cerro Armazones mountain, the ELT (Extremely Large Telescope) is being constructed.
“I felt like I was in a science fiction movie – massive telescopes, complex scientific instruments, and a night sky without light pollution, the likes of which I had never seen before,” Anni recalls. “My work there involved measuring the radial velocity stability of data from the X-shooter spectrograph as part of a small project. I even got access to some very fresh telescope data.” However, she didn’t get to carry out observations herself: “That’s done by specially trained operators and astronomers. The operator controls the telescope’s pointing, and the astronomer handles the instruments and the data collection.”
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Anni also had the chance to visit the ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) radio telescope facility, located at an altitude of 5,000 meters on the Chajnantor Plateau. “ALMA consists of 66 radio antennas and works in radio frequencies that allow us to observe, for example, molecules in young planetary systems and the formation of carbon-based molecules – everything essential for the emergence of life,” she says. “It’s no coincidence that the Spanish word alma means ‘soul’ in Estonian,” Anni adds with a smile.
Weekends in Chilean nature
Alongside her scientific work, Chile has also offered Anni plenty of opportunities for discovery. “When I don’t have observation proposals to write, I spend my weekends hiking in the mountains around Santiago,” she says. “During the ALMA visit, I spent a couple of days in San Pedro de Atacama, where I saw salt lagoons, ancient petroglyphs, and local animals – flamingos, llamas, guanacos, and even a prehistoric-looking nandu,” Anni recounts her adventures in Chile’s spectacular nature.
Anni Kasikov has completed a master’s degree in physics at the University of Tartu and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in space science and technology at Tartu Observatory, where she studies the variability of yellow hypergiant stars.
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