Galaxies Sparkle Above the Very Large Telescope in This Gorgeous Night-Sky Photo

[Judi Lynn]

Galaxies Sparkle Above the Very Large Telescope in This Gorgeous Night-Sky Photo
By Miguel Claro, Space.com Contributor | January 31, 2019 11:30am ET

- click for image -

https://img.purch.com/h/1400/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zcGFjZS5jb20vaW1hZ2VzL2kvMDAwLzA4Mi82MDkvb3JpZ2luYWwvdmx0LW1hZy1jbG91ZC1taWxreS13YXkuanBn

A view from the Very Large Telescope array in Chile shows four auxiliary telescopes under the Large and Small Magellanic clouds and the Milky Way.
Credit: Miguel Claro

Captured from the platform of the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope, located on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, this image shows four moveable, 1.8-meter auxiliary telescopes operating under a starry sky.

Rising in the background and near the horizon is Canopus, the second-brightest star in the sky. Above it, we can easily spot the Large and Small Magellanic clouds, two small dwarf galaxies that orbit the Milky Way. On the right side of the image we can find the beautiful presence of the Milky Way galaxy, our cosmic home. The Milky Way's dusty core also peeks into view in the upper right corner. [Our Milky Way Galaxy's Core Revealed (Photos)]

According to ESO, the VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument. It consists of four unit telescopes with main mirrors that are 8.2 meters (27 feet) in diameter; these telescopes are generally used separately but can also work together to achieve very high angular resolution.

VLT's four optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, all named using words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language. Each of these instruments contains optical elements that can combine all four into an astronomical interferometer, which is used to resolve small objects. The interferometer is complemented by four moveable, auxiliary telescopes of 1.8-m (8 feet) aperture.

More:
https://www.space.com/43181-milky-way-magellanic-clouds-over-vlt-photo.html

[nocoincidences]

1. Wow.

That's what the night sky should look like. Has anyone living in America ever seen a sky that wasn't light contaminated? Is there anyplace in America that you could see this sky?

Please tell me there is.

[Duppers]

2. That's a good question.

If I had more rt now, I'd research the subject.