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ESO Astronomical Observatory at Cerro Paranal

The giant VLT telescope at Paranal. Plenty of steel, cables, glass.

The giant VLT telescope at Paranal. Plenty of steel, cables, glass.

Close view of the giant VLT telescope at Paranal. Plenty of steel, cables, glass.

Close view of the giant VLT telescope at Paranal. Plenty of steel, cables, glass.

Aerial photo of the Paranal Residencia and basecamp maintenance installations

Aerial photo of the Paranal Residencia and basecamp maintenance installations

Aerial photo of the Paranal Residencia and the observatory basecamp installations

Aerial photo of the Paranal Residencia and basecamp installations

Vertical view down on the VLT telescope platform of Cerro Paranal

Vertical view down on the VLT telescope platform of Cerro Paranal

Unusual view vertically down on the Very Large Telescope at Paranal

Unusual view vertically down on the Very Large Telescope at Paranal

Paranal astronomical observatory at dusk, a lonely high tech place in the middle of the desert.

Paranal astronomical observatory at dusk, a lonely high tech place in the middle of the desert.

Construction site of the Extremely Large Telescope on Cerro Armazones in the Chilean Atacama Desert.

Construction site of the Extremely Large Telescope on Cerro Armazones in the Chilean Atacama Desert.

Orions nebula and horse head nebula, the dark skies of the Atacama desert, Chile

Orions nebula and horse head nebula, the dark skies of the Atacama desert, Chile

La Silla observatory: the 3.6m Telescope below the Milky Way

La Silla observatory: the 3.6m Telescope below the Milky Way

Long exposure of the Laser in Paranal. During the exposure the zoom lens was used in a creative way to achieve this interesting effect.

Creative image of Lasers in Paranal. Playing with the zoom lens during long exposure produced this interesting effect.

Inside the Very Large Telescope: The Laser Guide Star of Paranal telescope in operation

Inside the Very Large Telescope: The Laser Guide Star of Paranal telescope in operation

Panorama of the Milky Way arching above Paranal Observatory

Panorama of the Milky Way arching above Paranal Observatory

The first rays of the rising sun are illuminating the Paranal Observatory in the Atacama desert

The first rays of the rising sun are illuminating the Paranal Observatory in the Atacama desert

The center of our Milky Way galaxy, seen from the perfectly clear and dark skies of the Atacama Desert

The center of our Milky Way galaxy, seen from the perfectly clear and dark skies of the Atacama Desert

The belt of Venus with the setting full moon over the Pacific Ocean. View from the Paranal Residencia

The full moon setting over the Pacific Ocean. View from the Paranal Residencia

La Silla Observatory from the air at dawn

La Silla Observatory from the air at dawn

Aerial view of the 4 lasers of the VLT Observatory on Cerro Paranal

Aerial view of the 4 lasers of the VLT Observatory on Cerro Paranal

Super moon rising above Cerro Armazones, the ELT telescope construction site

Super moon rising above Cerro Armazones, ELT construction site

Paranal observatory with 4 Laser Guide Stars, Magellanic clouds, Zodiacal light and airglow.

Paranal observatory with 4 Laser Guide Stars, Magellanic clouds, Zodiacal light and airglow.

Looking down on the Paranal telescope platform from the air

Looking down on the Paranal telescope platform from the air

Light dome of Paranal Residencia with Milkyway and laser

Light dome of Paranal Residencia with Milkyway and laser

ESA Mars rover Bridget at the test site in the Atacama Desert near Paranal Observatory

ESA Mars rover Bridget at the test site in the Atacama Desert near Paranal Observatory

Aerial drone view of the 4LGSF lasers of the VLT Observatory on Cerro Paranal

Aerial drone view of the 4LGSF lasers of the VLT Observatory on Cerro Paranal

Four powerful lasers are launched to the sky above the Paranal Observatory in Chile

Four powerful lasers are launched to the sky above the Paranal Observatory in Chile

Paranal Observatory at sunrise with Venus Belt

Distant view of Paranal Observatory at sunrise with Venus Belt

Basecamp of Paranal Observatory with the Residencia Hotel in beautiful evening light

Basecamp of Paranal Observatory with the Residencia Hotel in beautiful evening light

Evening panorama of Paranal Observatory basecamp with Residencia and maintenance buildings

Evening panorama of Paranal Observatory basecamp with Residencia and maintenance buildings

Reaching for the Milky Way and the stars

Reaching for the Milky Way and the stars on Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert

Aerial panorama of Paranal with the VLT and VLTI and the shadow of Paranal next to Cerro Armazones on the horizon. The basecamp to the right.

Aerial panorama of Paranal with the VLT and VLTI and the shadow of Paranal next to Cerro Armazones on the horizon. The basecamp to the right.

The VLT, the 4 Lasers, Zodiacal Light, the Moon and the Milky Way

The VLT, the 4 Lasers, Zodiacal Light, the Moon and the Milky Way

Cerro Armazones in the Atacama Desert is prepared for the ELT (Extremely Large Telescope). Once completed it will be the biggest telescope on the planet.

Cerro Armazones in the Atacama Desert is prepared for the ELT (Extremely Large Telescope). Once completed it will be the biggest telescope on the planet.

Paranal VLT astronomical telescope from inside, ready for night observation

ESO Paranal VLT astronomical telescope from inside, ready for night observation

Moon Green Flash, a rare atmospheric phenomenon

Moon Green Flash, a rare atmospheric phenomenon

Aerial view of the Very Large Telescope observatory on Cerro Paranal in Chile at sunset.

Aerial view of the Very Large Telescope observatory on Cerro Paranal in Chile at sunset.

Dry desert plants (Cistanthe salsoloides) in front of the Paranal Residencia

Dry desert plants in front of the Paranal Residencia

Paranal telescope at sunset, long exposure with dome rotating

Paranal telescope at sunset, long exposure with dome rotating

Rare conjunction of four planets and the moon above Paranal Observatory: Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Mercury.

Rare conjunction of four planets and the moon above Paranal Observatory: Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Mercury.

Unusual wide angle aerial view of the ESO Very Large Telescope Paranal Observatory with surrounding Atacama desert

Unusual wide angle aerial view of the ESO Very Large Telescope Paranal Observatory with surrounding Atacama desert

Paranal observatory Residencia at dusk with moon

Paranal observatory Residencia at dusk with moon

Amazing clear view of Zodiacal light at the dark skies at Paranal, Atacama desert in Chile

Amazing clear view of Zodiacal light at the dark skies at Paranal, Atacama desert in Chile

The powerful 4 Laser Guide Star of the VLT at Cerro Paranal shooting at the Carina Nebula

The powerful 4 Laser Guide Star of the VLT at Cerro Paranal shooting at the Carina Nebula

The new powerful 4 lasers of ESO's Very Large Telescope at Cerro Paranal

The new powerful 4 lasers of ESO's Very Large Telescope at Cerro Paranal

The new four laser guide star of ESO's Very Large Telescope at Cerro Paranal

The new four laser guide star of ESO's Very Large Telescope at Cerro Paranal

Rare photo of Paranal Observatory covered in snow

Rare photo of Paranal Observatory covered in snow

Hi-tech for astronomy: the four 22 watt lasers of the Paranal telescope are launched to the sky.

Hi-tech for astronomy: the four 22 watt lasers of the Paranal telescope are launched to the sky.

Four powerful lasers are used for Adaptive Optics correction of atmospheric turbulence

Four powerful lasers are used for Adaptive Optics correction of atmospheric turbulence

The laser beams produce a spot in the Sodium layer at 90 km altitude

The laser beams produce a spot in the Sodium layer at 90 km altitude

The new four laser guide star facility of ESO's Very Large Telescope at Cerro Paranal

The new four laser guide star facility of ESO's Very Large Telescope at Cerro Paranal

Milky Way stretching from the VLT on Paranal to the VISTA telescope

Milky Way stretching from the VLT on Paranal to the VISTA telescope

Just before sunset the four VLT telescopes are ready for observation at Cerro Paranal

Just before sunset the four VLT telescopes are ready for observation at Cerro Paranal.

Full moon setting behind Cerro Paranal and the VLT Observatory

Full moon setting behind Cerro Paranal and the VLT Observatory

VISTA infrared survey telescope at Paranal, the VLT in the background.

VISTA infrared survey telescope at Paranal, the VLT in the background.

Aerial photo of Paranal Observatory, rolling Atacama desert hills in red evening light

Aerial photo of Paranal Observatory, rolling Atacama desert hills in red evening light

The VLT telescope with laser guide star during night observations at Cerro Paranal, Chile

The VLT telescope with laser guide star during night observations at Cerro Paranal, Chile

The Laser Guide Star of Paranal in operation with the Milky Way in the background

The Laser Guide Star of Paranal in operation with the Milky Way in the background

Paranal observatory VLT telescope at twilight with laser in operation

Paranal observatory VLT telescope at twilight with laser in operation

VLT telescope on Cerro Paranal, long exposure blurs the rotation of the dome.

VLT telescope on Cerro Paranal, long exposure blurs the rotation of the dome.

The Laser Guide Star of Paranal VLT telescope in operation

The Laser Guide Star of Paranal VLT telescope in operation

The Paranal VLT laser guide star is pointing at the galactic center

The Paranal VLT laser guide star is pointing at the galactic center

Mercury transit 2016 observed from Cerro Paranal in Chile with small amateur telescope

Mercury transit 2016 observed from Cerro Paranal in Chile with small amateur telescope

Comet Lovejoy and Plejades over Paranal observatory in Chile

Comet Lovejoy 2014 and Plejades on 20 Jan 2015 over Paranal Observatory

Paranal Very Large Telescope Observatory in Chile with VISTA in the foreground, seen from the air.

Paranal Very Large Telescope Observatory in Chile with VISTA in the foreground, seen from the air.

Panorama of the four ESO VLT telescopes at sunset on Cerro Paranal, Chile

Panorama of the four ESO VLT telescopes at sunset on Cerro Paranal, Chile

Rare thunderstorm with lightning over Paranal observatory

In this electrifying image a furious thunderstorm is discharging its mighty rage over Cerro Paranal.

The Paranal Residencia covered in snow, a rare event

The Paranal Residencia covered in snow, a rare event

VLT Paranal observatory aerial photo with Llullaillaco volcano in the background

VLT Paranal observatory aerial photo with Llullaillaco volcano in the background

Engineers are preparing to clean the giant 8 meter telescope mirror of the VLT

Engineers are preparing to clean the giant 8 meter telescope mirror of the VLT

Engineers are preparing to clean the giant 8 meter mirror of the VLT

Engineers are preparing to clean the giant 8 meter mirror of ESO's Very Large Telescope on Cerro Paranal in Chile.

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© 2020 copyright gerhard huedepohl

gerhard huedepohl