The New Technology Telescope atop La Silla

A dramatic image of the 3.58-metre New Technology Telescope at ESO'S La Silla Observatory. This telescope broke new ground when it was inaugurated in 1989, as it was the first in the world to have a computer-controlled main mirror. This main mirror is flexible, and its shape is actively adjusted during observations to preserve the optimal image quality. The secondary mirror position is also actively controlled in three directions.