Paranal Observatory
Encyclopedia
Paranal Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on Cerro Paranal
at 2,635 m altitude (120 km south of Antofagasta
, Chile
) and operated by the European Southern Observatory
. The Very Large Telescope
(VLT) is the largest telescope on Paranal, actually composed of four separate 8.2 m telescopes. In addition the four main telescopes can combine their light to make a fifth instrument, the VLTI, Very Large Telescope Interferometer. Four auxiliary telescopes of 1.8m each are being added to the VLTI to make it available when the main telescopes are being used for other projects. The first two of these were installed in early 2004 and 2005.
The site also houses the 2.5m VLT Survey Telescope
and 4m VISTA
survey telescope with wider fields of view for surveying large areas of sky uniformly.
(VLT) consists of four 8.2 m telescope
s operating in the visible and infrared
. These telescopes, along with 4 smaller Auxiliary telescopes, are also combined to operate as an optical interferometer
on certain nights of the year. All of the 8.2m telescopes have adaptive optics and a full suite of instruments.
with a wide field of view
, that will focus on infrared surveys of the sky. VISTA was built close to ESO's
VLT
by a consortium of 18 UK universities led by Queen Mary, University of London it was handed over to the European Southern Observatory in December 2009.
with a wide field imager intended to aid the VLT
in its scientific aims.
) which provides accommodation for staff and visitors. This is located 200 m lower and 3 km from the telescopes. It is built half into the mountain with the concrete coloured to blend into the landscape. It has gym facilities, a swimming pool, a restaurant and two gardens. The construction was decorated by the Chilean architect
Paula Gutiérrez Erlandsen, Marchioness of la Pica
.
Cerro Paranal
Cerro Paranal , also known as Paranal Mountain is a mountain in the Atacama desert of northern Chile that is home to the Paranal Observatory. It is famous for hosting the Very Large Telescope and the VLT Survey Telescope. It is located 120 km west of Antofagasta and 80 km north of Taltal,...
at 2,635 m altitude (120 km south of Antofagasta
Antofagasta
Antofagasta is a port city in northern Chile, about north of Santiago. It is the capital of Antofagasta Province and Antofagasta Region. According to the 2002 census, the city has a population of 296,905...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
) and operated by the European Southern Observatory
European Southern Observatory
The European Southern Observatory is an intergovernmental research organisation for astronomy, supported by fifteen countries...
. The Very Large Telescope
Very Large Telescope
The Very Large Telescope is a telescope operated by the European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT consists of four individual telescopes, each with a primary mirror 8.2m across, which are generally used separately but can be used together to...
(VLT) is the largest telescope on Paranal, actually composed of four separate 8.2 m telescopes. In addition the four main telescopes can combine their light to make a fifth instrument, the VLTI, Very Large Telescope Interferometer. Four auxiliary telescopes of 1.8m each are being added to the VLTI to make it available when the main telescopes are being used for other projects. The first two of these were installed in early 2004 and 2005.
The site also houses the 2.5m VLT Survey Telescope
VLT Survey Telescope
The VLT Survey Telescope is the latest telescope to be added to ESO’s Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. It is housed in an enclosure immediately adjacent to the four Very Large Telescope Unit Telescopes on the summit of Cerro Paranal. The VST is a wide-field survey...
and 4m VISTA
VISTA (telescope)
The VISTA is a reflecting telescope with a 4.1 metre mirror, located at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. It is operated by the European Southern Observatory and saw first light in December 2009...
survey telescope with wider fields of view for surveying large areas of sky uniformly.
Very Large Telescope
The Very Large TelescopeVery Large Telescope
The Very Large Telescope is a telescope operated by the European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT consists of four individual telescopes, each with a primary mirror 8.2m across, which are generally used separately but can be used together to...
(VLT) consists of four 8.2 m telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
s operating in the visible and infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
. These telescopes, along with 4 smaller Auxiliary telescopes, are also combined to operate as an optical interferometer
Astronomical optical interferometry
One of the first astronomical interferometers was built on the Mount Wilson Observatory's reflector telescope in 1920 in order to measure the diameters of stars. The red giant star Betelgeuse was among the first to have its diameter determined in this way...
on certain nights of the year. All of the 8.2m telescopes have adaptive optics and a full suite of instruments.
VISTA Survey Telescope
VISTA is the Visible & Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy. A 4 m telescopeTelescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
with a wide field of view
Field of view
The field of view is the extent of the observable world that is seen at any given moment....
, that will focus on infrared surveys of the sky. VISTA was built close to ESO's
European Southern Observatory
The European Southern Observatory is an intergovernmental research organisation for astronomy, supported by fifteen countries...
VLT
VLT
VLT may stand for:* Very Large Telescope, a system of four large optical telescopes organized in an array formation, located in northern Chile...
by a consortium of 18 UK universities led by Queen Mary, University of London it was handed over to the European Southern Observatory in December 2009.
VLT Survey Telescope (VST)
The VLT Survey Telescope or VST is a 2.6m telescopeTelescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
with a wide field imager intended to aid the VLT
VLT
VLT may stand for:* Very Large Telescope, a system of four large optical telescopes organized in an array formation, located in northern Chile...
in its scientific aims.
Other buildings
As well as the telescopes, control buildings and maintenance facilities, Paranal has a Residencia (ESO HotelESO Hotel
ESO Hotel at Cerro Paranal is the accommodation for Paranal Observatory in Chile since 2002. It is mainly used for the ESO scientists and engineers who work there on a roster system....
) which provides accommodation for staff and visitors. This is located 200 m lower and 3 km from the telescopes. It is built half into the mountain with the concrete coloured to blend into the landscape. It has gym facilities, a swimming pool, a restaurant and two gardens. The construction was decorated by the Chilean architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Paula Gutiérrez Erlandsen, Marchioness of la Pica
Marquis of la Pica
The title Marquis de la Pica is a Spanish title bestowed upon Francisco Bravo de Saravia on July 8, 1684 by King Charles II of Spain.-List of holders:* Francisco Bravo de Saravia Ovalle, 1st Marquess of la Pica...
.
Popular culture
The VLT hotel, the Residencia, served as a backdrop for part of the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace.Gallery
External links
- Paranal Observatory
- ESO
- VLT Project
- VLTI, Very Large Telescope Interferometer
- Paranal Observatory featured in the Astronomy Picture of the Day