First light of new laser on Adaptive Optics Facility at Paranal

The 4 Laser Guide Star Facility (4LGSF) team have achieved first light with the first of four laser guide star units on Unit Telescope 4 (UT4) of ESO’s Very Large Telescope at Paranal. This is a key step on the way to creating the full Adaptive Optics Facility.

First light took place on the night of Wednesday 29 April . This image shows the intense orange beam pointed close in the sky to the planet Saturn.