Solitary laser guide star divides the Magellanic Clouds

A solitary laser guide star from ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) divides the Magellanic Clouds in this captivating image. These dwarf galaxies are two of our nearest galactic neighbours, and have long been an object of fascination for astronomers.

The laser shining from the VLT is a key component of the adaptive optics system which allows astronomers to vastly reduce the atmospheric distortion present at even the best sites in the world for astronomy, including Paranal in Chile, the home of the VLT.