The VLT looking at the sunset

The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is the most important observation tool for European ground-based astronomy. Built on top of Cerro Paranal, this set of four main telescopes plus four auxiliary telescopes has made some of the most interesting discoveries of modern astronomy throughout its 20 years of operation.

At the top of the Cerro Paranal and also visible in this image obtained from a drone is also the VLT Survey Telescope (VST) and the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA), seen in the distance on the next mountain peak over from the main platform.