Very Large Telescope, Astronomical observatory in Taltal, Chile
The Very Large Telescope consists of four main telescopes with 8.2-meter mirrors and four auxiliary telescopes with 1.8-meter mirrors in the Atacama Desert.
The European Southern Observatory initiated the VLT project in 1977, and construction began after selecting Cerro Paranal as the site location in 1990.
The four main telescopes received names from the Mapuche language: Antu for Sun, Kueyen for Moon, Melipal for Southern Cross, and Yepun for Venus.
Located at 2635 meters elevation, the facility experiences 350 clear nights annually, providing excellent conditions for astronomical observations.
The telescopes can operate independently or combine their capabilities through interferometry to achieve the resolution of a 200-meter telescope.
Location: Antofagasta Region
Inception: 1998
Elevation above the sea: 2,636 m
Diameter: 1.8 m
Part of: Paranal Observatory
Website: https://eso.org/vlt
GPS coordinates: -24.62750,-70.40417
Latest update: May 26, 2025 19:48
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