Laser light amongst the Magellanic Clouds

A solitary laser guide star from ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) seems to divide the two Magellanic Clouds in this captivating image.

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.