Translate ESO videos into your language

Would you like to see our astronomy outreach videos, such as the ESOcast video podcasts, subtitled in your own language? We are now uploading our videos to dotSUB, where members of the public can contribute subtitle translations. We want to bring the excitement of ESO astronomy to an even wider international audience, and we’d like your help!

Finding and watching our videos on dotSUB

You can find our videos by searching for “ESOastronomy”. We also group related videos together. For example, you can find the ESOcasts in the “ESOcasts” collection.

If you just want to watch the videos (with any available subtitles), you don’t need to create an account. However, if you want to help us by translating the subtitles into your language, you just need to create a (free) account at dotSUB.

Translating a video into your language

To find out how to use dotSUB, you can follow the tutorials on the dotSUB site. In particular, watch the tutorial “How to translate a video on dotSUB”.

You will need to create a free account on the site in order to translate videos. Then, simply choose a video and start translating. Your translated subtitles will be available on the site.

Notes for translators of ESO videos

  1. We ask that translators should be fluent in both English and the language into which you are translating, and that you have a good understanding of the scientific and technical terms used in the videos.
  2. Write your translation clearly and accurately, using correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. While your translation must as accurately as possible reflect the meaning of the original text, it does not have to be a word-for-word literal translation. You may, for example, translate idioms into equivalent idioms in your language.
  3. We ask that you check your translation with a friend or colleague for style and accuracy.
  4. Acronyms and abbreviations such as ESO, ESA, VLT, E-ELT must not be translated. Expansions such as “European Southern Observatory” or “European Space Agency” may be translated, if appropriate, but the original abbreviation (“ESO” or “ESA”) should also appear.
  5. Video product names such as “ESOcast”, “Eyes on the Skies”, and “Hubblecast”, must always be written like this and not translated.
  6. No additional information should be added to the subtitles, no URLs given in the subtitles (such as www.eso.org, www.spacetelescope.org) should be altered, and no additional URLs added, except with the approval of ESO.
  7. We cannot help with technical questions about the dotSUB system; these should be directed to dotSUB.
  8. If you have specific questions about the English transcript text, please contact information@eso.org
  9. If you believe that someone has written something deceptive or offensive in a translation, please contact information@eso.org
  10. ESO may choose to prevent editing of a translation, restrict it to specified users, or edit or delete a translation. We may export subtitles and make them available either as separate files or embedded in video files, which will be licensed under the same Creative Commons Attribution licence as the original videos.