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Credit: European Southern Observatory
Explanation:
The
Very Large Telescope (VLT) Interferometric
Array will be able to act as
individual telescopes or as one huge telescope.
Of the four planned VLTs in
Chile,
two have now reached completion. The
first VLT
to operate is visible on the left of the above photograph and was
recently given the name Antu.
To its right is Kueyen,
which achieved its first observations just last week. Each
VLT telescope by itself is now one of the
largest optical telescopes in the world,
joining the new cadre of large telescopes with
mirrors greater than 8-meters in diameter.
After Melipal and Yepun are completed in the next few years, the four
VLTs will be able to combine their light
to achieve the sensitivity of a single 16-meter telescope,
and the resolution of a single 200-meter telescope.
Over the next few years, the VLT telescopes will
explore the universe in unprecedented detail,
searching for everything from ordinary planets orbiting nearby stars to
extraordinary explosions in the
distant universe.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: interferometry - VLT - telescope
Publications with words: interferometry - VLT - telescope
See also: