Panoramic Paranal perspective

The four Unit Telescopes of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) are accompanied by their four Auxiliary Telescopes in this unusual fulldome fish-eye perspective from ESO's Paranal Observatory in northern Chile.

The plane of the Milky Way — rippled with dust, gas and stars — can be seen elegantly stretching above the telescopes, as a red and green radiance — known as airglow — scatters the spectacular southern sky.

Links

• Equirectangular projected version of this image
• Extended to 360x180 degrees (with black) version of the image