Meanwhile, an enterprise-class relational database management system is used to operate and synchronize the databases in Germany and Chile.

ESO's tech team used a combination of off-the-shelf products and internally developed pieces for areas where customization made the most sense. The system was based primarily on Sun Solaris and Hewlett-Packard Co. technologies, but now the IT team is moving toward Linux running on Dell Inc. hardware. ESO also uses data management products from Sybase Inc., which has database expertise and has worked with other astronomical agencies.

ESO invested about $60 million in the IT infrastructure between 1995 and 2001, according to Peter Quinn, head of ESO's data management and operations division. Most of that investment -- nearly $50 million -- went to labor costs, with the rest going to equipment. ESO now invests about $12 million annually in development, maintenance and operations.

"They've done a thorough job providing an IT infrastructure to ensure they're using the telescopes in an efficient way," notes Daniel Steeghs, an astronomer at the Harvard -- Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass., and a native of the Netherlands who has worked on ESO's systems.

Despite its successes, ESO has challenges ahead in managing its ever -- increasing volume of data. Officials say they're developing cluster computing technology to meet predicted needs; ESO must have the capacity to store and process close to 1TB of science data per day by 2010.