12th VVV Science Meeting

Florianópolis, SC – Brazil

April 7-11, 2025

Scientific Rationale

The VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) and VVV eXtended (VVVX) are European Southern Observatory (ESO) public surveys that used the VISTA telescope to monitor the central region of the Milky Way with sub arc-second spatial resolution in the near infrared bands. The observations took place between 2010 and 2023, generating light curves with 60 to 300 epochs for hundreds of millions of sources down to Ks~17 mag. This is the first infrared survey to cover almost 80 per cent of the Milky Way’s luminous mass at such depth and with an unprecedented number of epochs. With the completion of the observations, VVV/VVVX has provided the astronomical community with the largest infrared catalogue ever made for the central region of the Galaxy. The main objective of the 12th VVV Science Meeting in Florianópolis is to bring together students and researchers from different areas of astronomy, with active members of the VVV/VVVX scientific team and researchers from current or future projects such as Roman and JWST in a friendly atmosphere, giving everyone the opportunity to present their results, interact with the speakers, work on projects and plan future collaborations and observations.

This 12th VVV Science Meeting will be hosted by the Astrophysics Group at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. We are looking forward to seeing you in Florianópolis!

Important dates

  • Abstract Submission and Early Registration Deadline: February 20
  • Housing Deadline (special fares at Hotel Costa Norte): February 20
  • Late Registration Deadline (including Abstract Submission): March 15

At the moment we are unable to offer financial support to participants. We are looking for funds to help local students present their work, to be confirmed by February 20

Topics

  • Variable Stars and Transients
  • Interstellar Medium
  • Stellar Populations
  • Nearby Stars and BDs
  • Galactic Structure
  • Star Clusters and SFRs
  • Galaxies in the Avoidance Zone
  • Quasars and AGNs
  • Galactic Surveys

Confirmed speakers

  • Dante Minniti – PI of VVV/VVVX (UNAB/VO – Chile)
  • Philip Lucas – Co-PI of VVV/VVVX (University of Hertfordshire – UK)
  • Bernardo Borges (UFSC – Brazil)
  • Claudio Caceres (Universidad Andres Bello – Chile)
  • Felipe Navarete (LNA/MCTI – Brazil)
  • Fernanda Duplancic (Universidad Nacional de San Juan – Argentina)
  • Javier Alonso-García (Universidad de Antofagasta – Chile)
  • Jura Borissova (Universidad de Valparaiso – Chile)
  • Laura Baravalle (IATE-CONICET – Argentina)
  • Matias Gomez (Universidad Andres Bello – Chile)
  • Nicholas Cross (Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh – UK)
  • Rudy Kurtev (Universidad de Valparaiso – Chile)
  • Valentin D. Ivanov (ESO – Germany)
  • Zhen Guo (Universidad de Valparaíso – Chile)
  • Alonso Luna (ESO / INAF-OACN – Chile)
  • Calum Morris (University of Hertfordshire – UK)
  • Casmir Obasi (Universidad Católica del Norte – Chile)
  • Daniela Galdeano (Universidad Nacional de San Juan – Argentina)
  • Elisa Rita Garro (ESO-CHILE – Chile)
  • Gabriella Zsidi (University of Hertfordshire – UK)
  • Maria Gabriela Navarro (INAF / Observatory of Rome – Italy)
  • David Concha (UDA – Chile)
  • Francisco Zarate (Universidad Nacional de San Juan – Argentina)
  • Jorge Anais Vilchez (Universidad de Antofagasta – Chile)
  • Vitor Fermiano (UFSC – Brazil)

Organising Committee

  • Roberto K. Saito (Chair, Brazil)
  • Dante Minniti (Co-chair, Chile)
  • Phil W. Lucas (UK)
  • Joyce Pullen (Chile)
  • Bernardo Borges (Brazil)
  • Fernanda Duplancic (Argentina)
  • Maria Gabriela Navarro (Italy)
  • Diana Quispe (Brazil)
  • Vitor Fermiano (Brazil)

Updated Program

Venue

The 12th VVV Science Meeting will be held from 7 to 11 April 2025 at the Hotel São Sebastião, located just a few steps from the sea on Campeche beach in Florianópolis-SC, Brazil, and it will certainly be a pleasant place to hold our meeting.

Florianópolis, better known as ‘Floripa’, is an island located on the coast of the state of Santa Catarina, in the southern region of Brazil. Floripa is an important tourist destination in South America and is widely known for its beautiful beaches. Campeche beach is one of the most beautiful on the island. Located in the southern part of the island, the beach is known for its clear blue waters and white sands, with great waves for surfing and for the whales that migrate from the South Atlantic with their calves to the warmer waters off the Brazilian coast during the winter.

Just in front to the beach is the ‘Island of Campeche’, a small island with crystal-clear waters and ancient rock inscriptions, populated by amusing and curious coatis.

In the past, Campeche was home to an airfield used by Aéropostale, the French airmail company where the author of the ‘The Little Prince’, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, worked as a pilot. In honour of Saint-Exupéry’s adventures on the island, Campeche’s main avenue is called Avenida Pequeno Príncipe (The Little Prince avenue, in Portuguese). Campeche is about 15 km from the city centre and 9 km from Hercílio Luz Intl. Airport.

Accommodations

Hotel São Sebastião has special rates for VVV Meeting participants. To get special rates, book your room exclusively by emailing vendas@hotelsaosebastiao.com.br and make sure to include in the title and/or message that you are a ‘VVV Meeting’ participant. The special rates apply to bookings made by 20 February and are also valid for family members and guests staying at the hotel with the meeting participants. The prices are listed below including full board during the meeting (breakfast, lunch and dinner, with soft drinks and vegetarian options on the buffet). Rooms are limited, so make sure you secure your accommodation.​

Special rates at Hotel São Sebastião for VVV Meeting participants*

* Daily rate in Brazilian reais (BRL), full board basis during the meeting

  • Single Room BRL 627 (EUR ~102; USD ~107)
  • Double/Triple Room BRL 487 (per person; EUR ~80; USD ~83)
Participants not to staying at the Hotel São Sebastião

Participants who choose not to stay at the Hotel São Sebastião must pay for a fee, guaranteeing access to the meeting venue, as well as to the coffee breaks and lunches served at the hotel for meeting participants (the latter already included in the rate for participants staying at the Hotel São Sebastião). The price for the five days of the event can be arranged with the organising committee at roberto.saito@ufsc.br.​

  • Fee for participants not staying at Hotel São Sebastião BRL 835 (EUR ~137; USD ~142)
Hotel São Sebastião

Av. Campeche, 1373 – Campeche, Florianópolis – SC, 88063-300, Brazil. Phone/Whatsapp: +55 48 3338-2020

Registration is closed

Registration for the 12th VVV Science Meeting is closed. The deadline to contribute with oral presentations or posters closed on March 15.

Participation in the event will be not subject to a registration fee, however participants who choose not to stay at the Hotel São Sebastião are subject to a fee to cover the cost of the venue, coffee breaks and lunches during the week of the meeting. The fee is BRL 835 (EUR ~137; USD ~142). Payment details are described above (see ‘Participants not to staying at the Hotel São Sebastião’).

Submissions after 20 February are conditional and will depend on the maximum limit of 40 participants and the availability of time in the meeting programme.

Important notes

– Acceptance letters can be sent on request to roberto.saito@ufsc.br.
– Due to technical limitations, the event will not be webcast or recorded, nor will it be possible to present an online seminar.
– At the moment we are unable to offer financial support to participants. We are looking for funds to help local students present their work, to be confirmed by 20 February.

Local Information

Flying to Florianópolis: The airport serving the city of Florianópolis is the Hercílio Luz Intl. Airport, also known as ‘Floripa Airport’ (IATA code ‘FLN’). The airport was recently expanded with the construction of a new terminal and is receiving an increasing number of international flights, without the need for connections in São Paulo/Guarulhos. There are options for direct international flights from the main capitals of South America, including Santiago, Buenos Aires, Lima and Montevideo. From Europe there are direct flights to/from Portugal (through Lisbon, flying TAP airline) and from the United States there are several options with a connection in Panama City and then onwards to Florianópolis, flying Copa airline.

Ground Transportation: Officially identified taxis operate at the airport with fares determined by the taximeter. Hotel São Sebastião is about 10 kilometres from the airport, so expect a 10 to 15 minute ride from the airport, depending on traffic. If you have your smartphone with you, you can use the airport’s free wi-fi to call a transport app. The most popular transport apps in Florianópolis are Uber and 99. However, calling a car via the app may require a bit of patience due to the difficulty of finding a driver willing to make a shorter journey, since the meeting venue is located in the closest beach/neighbourhood to the airport. It’s important to know that most drivers can’t communicate in English, so take the opportunity to practise your ‘Portuñol’. Important: don’t use unofficial taxis and don’t accept offers from drivers other than through the app. Attempted scams charging exorbitant amounts are unfortunately a reality. If you are approached by someone, make it clear that you are not interested and if necessary tell a nearby police officer.

Currency and exchange: Brazilian currency is the “Real” (BRL). There is no exchange houses near the meeting place. Best options for exchanging your currency are in the Airport, in the city centre or in the Malls (here called “shopping centers”): Floripa Shopping, Beiramar Shopping and Villa Romana Shopping are the Malls in the island.

Registered participants

  1. Alonso Luna – ESO, INAF-OACN – Germany
  2. Bernardo Borges – UFSC – Brazil
  3. Calum Morris – University of Hertfordshire – UK
  4. Casmir Obasi – Universidad Católica del Norte – Chile
  5. Claudio Caceres – Universidad Andres Bello – Chile
  6. Daniela Galdeano – Universidad Nacional de San Juan – Argentina
  7. Dante Minniti – UNAB/VO – Chile
  8. David Concha – UDA – Chile
  9. Elisa Rita Garro – ESO-CHILE – Chile
  10. Felipe Navarete – LNA/MCTI – Brazil
  11. Fernanda Duplancic – Universidad Nacional de San Juan – Argentina
  12. Francesco Mauro, Universidad Catolica del Norte – Chile
  13. Francisco Zarate – Universidad Nacional de San Juan – Argentina
  14. Gabriella Zsidi – University of Hertfordshire – UK
  15. Javier Alonso-García – Universidad de Antofagasta – Chile
  16. Jorge Anais Vilchez – Universidad de Antofagasta – Chile
  17. Jura Borissova – Universidad de Valparaiso – Chile
  18. Laura Baravalle – IATE-CONICET – Argentina
  19. Maria Gabriela Navarro – INAF – Observatory of Rome – Italy
  20. Matias Gomez – Universidad Andres Bello – Chile
  21. Nicholas Cross – Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh – UK
  22. Philip Lucas – University of Hertfordshire – UK
  23. Rafael Fraga Guerco, Universidad Católica del Norte – Chile
  24. Roberto K. Saito – UFSC – Brazil
  25. Rudy Kurtev – Universidad de Valparaiso – Chile
  26. Sonia Diana Quispe Mamani – UFSC – Brazil
  27. Valentin D. Ivanov – ESO – Germany
  28. Vitor Fermiano – UFSC – Brazil
  29. Zhen Guo – Universidad de Valparaíso – Chile
Panel 1

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