The frontier of ground-based observations

Abstract

Abstract. The ESO VLT on Paranal is in transition from first generation instrumentation to second generation, or at least to substantially upgraded instrumentation. The new instrumentation shall establish multipicity gain, high image definition or integral field imaging spectroscopy. Starting from observational highlights, status and trends for groundbased instrumentation will be revisited with emphasis on the field of PNe in all evolutionary phases. This review will concentrate on spectroscopy and scientific cases where groundbased observations offer a particular advantage. To the extent possible, a projection will be given as to the potential of the extremely large telescopes on the horizon, which will work best in the (near-)infrared.