VISTA, Infrared survey telescope at Paranal Observatory, Chile
VISTA is an infrared survey instrument with a primary mirror about 4 meters wide, located at Paranal Observatory in Chile's Atacama Desert. It uses specialized cameras to capture large areas of sky while detecting both visible light and infrared radiation.
The telescope was developed by 18 British universities under Queen Mary University of London's leadership. In 2009 it was transferred to the European Southern Observatory, which has operated it since then.
The telescope emerged from a partnership among multiple British universities that pooled their expertise. Today astronomers worldwide use the observation data to gain new insights about distant galaxies and stars.
The telescope sits at high altitude on a mountain in a dry desert where air conditions are ideal for observations. Visitors should note that the site is extremely remote and requires careful planning to access.
The telescope has special filters that work in the infrared range, allowing it to observe objects invisible to normal telescopes. This ability makes it particularly valuable for studying galaxies in the early stages of the universe.
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