MPG/ESO telescope, Research telescope in La Silla Observatory, Chile
The MPG/ESO telescope is a Ritchey-Chrétien instrument at La Silla Observatory featuring a primary mirror of 2.20 meters and a secondary mirror of 0.84 meters in diameter. It operates at 2375 meters elevation and is equipped with scientific instruments designed for observations across optical and infrared wavelengths.
Built by Zeiss, the telescope has operated at La Silla since 1984, on indefinite loan from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy to ESO. In October 2013 it was returned to the MPIA, while ESO kept responsibility for its operation and maintenance and observing time stayed shared between MPIA and MPE programmes.
The telescope facilitates astronomical research through instruments like GROND for gamma-ray burst detection and FEROS for detailed stellar investigations.
The site sits on a high plateau with clear, dry air that provides excellent viewing conditions. Visitors should note that the elevation and remote location require special preparations.
The instrument is equipped with the Wide Field Imager, which captures sky areas as large as the apparent size of the Moon. This capability allows astronomers to study vast regions of the sky in a single observation.
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