As everything in the modern world, even professional astronomy, everything is operated by a computer in some way or another. Below is a picture of the NOB - New Observation Building.
You can still go and see the semi-old observation rooms. The following picture is the original control room for the 2.2m telescope, but is no longer operational here.
This building contains all the terminals for the telescopes - 2.2m, NTT and 3.6m and usually referred to as the TCS - Telescope Control System. Each instrument then has its' own terminal also, like GROND (2.2.m Telescope Control Computers also):
This terminal lets you see the status of the instrument, run exposures (just like a normal camera) on a target (e.g. star). It also can let you change the position of the telescope to where you want to point, so that you don't have to use two separate terminals.
So for each terminal there is one TIO - Telescope Instrument Operator, who controls the telescope and the instruments. For GROND it is different and GROND can only be used by members of the GROND team. I'll write about GROND another day when I have more time.
3.6m Telescope Control Computers:
NTT Control Computers:
The problem with observing is that you're spending your time in front of a computer for most of the night, that during the day it's nice to do other things. Fortunately when they built the complex at La Silla they took this into account and set up a few places for people to keep their sanity. I'm quite surprised there hasn't been anyone going crazy on the mountain yet, I guess there's still time for me.
Firstly, to make sure you keep awake during the night, there are several kitchen areas with coffee machines (which seem to be from the German pre-historic ages - unfortunately they also taste that way too), endless supply for tea, biscuits and other food;
a pool room, which is usually used when there is bad weather during the night and you're just waiting;
a cinema, with a large collection of movies in the library;
and also a gym court;
gym room;
and dojo (otherwise you would get fat and crazy).
All in all, it is a nice place, and slightly strange having a cinema in the middle of no where. Though I can assure you, if you stay longer than 3 weeks, it can become a little bit isolated and boredom sets in very easily. It's also especially strange as this was originally built for the 100 or so staff members that originally came here. However, in the past 10 years they have been transferred to Paranal after the VLT was built and so it can feel like a ghost town, especially when you're the only one in the gymnasium.
