Paranal 360

This 360-degree image of ESO's Paranal Observatory exhibits the impressive Very Large Telescope (VLT) in action and the breathtaking sky it is observing. The laser is being sent up by Unit Telescope 4 (Yepun) to act as an artificial guide star for the Adaptive Optics system, which is state-of-the-art technology that corrects the blurring effects of Earth's atmosphere to produce sharper images. The laser is directed towards our home galaxy, the Milky Way, which appears as a bright band of stars across the sky, displaying the excellent viewing conditions that this site enjoys.

Enjoy also our exciting Virtual Tours.