Visão de túnel
Esta Fotografia da Semana leva-nos até um dos túneis situados sob o Observatório do Paranal do ESO, no deserto chileno do Atacama. As linhas pretas e brancas ajudam-nos a focar na figura solitária ao fundo, um dos membros dum grupo crucial do ESO: os engenheiros dos nossos observatórios. Quer estejam a inspeccionar os túneis, como vemos aqui, a fazer a manutenção dos espelhos dos telescópios ou a reparar instrumentos capazes de capturar objetos cósmicos ténues, os nossos engenheiros são indispensáveis para o desenvolvimento e funcionamento das instalações do ESO.
Este é um dos túneis que ligam os Telescópios Principais do Very Large Telescope (VLT) ao edifício de controlo, onde o VLT e os seus instrumentos são operados pelas equipas de observação. Em cada túnel temos cabos de energia e de rede, bem como tubagens que conduzem líquido para arrefecer vários sistemas no interior de cada telescópio. Os túneis também podem ser utilizados para aceder aos próprios telescópios quando o vento se torna demasiado forte no exterior. Esta fotografia aponta na direção da parede do Telescópio Principal nº 1, denominado Antu, que, na língua mapuche dos povos indígenas do centro-sul do Chile, significa Sol.
Os tubos no tecto, os cabos ocultos nas paredes e os reflexos no chão juntam-se para criar uma atmosfera um pouco misteriosa. O fotógrafo Luca Sbordone, astrónomo do ESO, comenta em modo divertido: "Como fã de ficção científica, adoro os túneis; têm um certo ar de nave espacial. Para uma experiência ainda mais gira, há que percorrê-los com as luzes apagadas e levando apenas uma lanterna. Até agora, ainda não encontrei nos túneis do Paranal alienígenas devoradores de pessoas a babarem-se, mas também ainda não perdi a esperança!!"
Créditos:L. Sbordone/ESO
Sobre a imagem
| Id: | potw2624a |
| Língua: | pt |
| Tipo: | Fotográfico |
| Data de divulgação: | 15 de Junho de 2026 às 06:00 |
| Tamanho: | 5152 x 7728 px |
Sobre o objeto
| Nome: | VLT Unit Telescopes |
| Tipo: | Unspecified : Technology : Observatory Unspecified : People : Scientist |
Formatos de imagens
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