Sunset panorama at La Silla

This majestic panorama gives context to ESO’s La Silla Observatory. The site is positioned 2400 metres above sea level in the southern outskirts of Chile’s Atacama Desert. Far from the light pollution of civilisation it provides a clear view of the night sky for ESO’s telescopes.

La Silla has been an ESO stronghold since the 1960s with only a selection of ESO’s telescopes visible in this image: The ESO 1-metre Schmidt telescope, the ESO 1-metre telescope and the ESO 1.52-metre telescope are seen further towards the back.

La Silla also hosts many national telescopes such as the Danish 1.54-metre telescope on the far left and the silver dome protecting the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope.

Fog is hovering over the valleys surrounding La Silla while the setting Sun leaves a layer of orange above the horizon. Once the Sun has disappeared the night sky will reveal impressive astronomical sights waiting to be observed.