Paranal Observatory, Astronomical observatory in the Antofagasta region, Chile
The Observatoire du Cerro Paranal is an astronomical research facility in the Atacama Desert, in the Antofagasta region of Chile, sitting at about 2,635 meters (8,645 feet) above sea level. Its centerpiece is the Very Large Telescope (VLT), made up of four main telescope units each with a mirror over 8 meters (26 feet) wide, along with several smaller auxiliary telescopes.
The observatory was officially opened in 1996 at a ceremony attended by the Chilean president and the king of Sweden. It was built by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), a group of European countries, replacing older facilities in the region.
The four main telescopes carry names from the Mapuche language: Antu, Kueyen, Melipal, and Yepun, meaning Sun, Moon, Southern Cross, and Venus. These names connect modern science to the indigenous culture of Chile in a way visitors can directly read and remember.
The site is open to visitors on select days through guided tours that allow you to see the telescopes from a safe distance. It is worth booking in advance, as spots are limited and the facility is far from the nearest town.
The site includes a building called the Residencia, an underground structure with a glass dome ceiling and an indoor pool, built for scientists who spend months working on site. This building was used as a filming location for the 2008 James Bond movie Quantum of Solace.
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