Scattered telescopes

This photo shows just a few of the telescopes hosted by ESO's original observatory, La Silla. In the foreground on the right sits the Danish 1.54-metre telescope, and the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope is distinguished on the left by its silver dome, hiding the ESO 1-metre Schmidt Telescope just behind it. In the background the rectangular building of the 3.58-metre New Technology Telescope (NTT) is visible, while the ESO 3.6-metre telescope dome sits higher up.

Since its inauguration in 1969, La Silla has remained scientifically relevant among newer observatories, thanks to the addition of new telescopes and instruments over the years. Over 300 refereed publications per year are attributable to La Silla's work. Many of the telescopes here have broken new ground in astronomical research; the NTT was the first in the world to have a computer-controlled main mirror, paving the way for the Very Large Telescope (VLT). The ESO 3.6-metre telescope hosts the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS), the world's foremost exoplanet hunter. Research at La Silla has led to many scientific 'firsts', some of which are counted among ESO's Top 10 Astronomical Discoveries.