EIS - An Imaging Survey for VLT Science

Abstract.

The imaging data assembled by the recently completed ESO Imaging Survey (EIS) are reviewed and their scientific value briefly assessed. Among the various applications, the imaging data has been used to build a large sample of candidate distant clusters of galaxies in the Southern Hemisphere to be used for follow-up observations with the VLT as well as other space and ground-based facilities. Preliminary results from ongoing work to confirm these candidates are reported and the future prospects discussed.