Four lasers for the VLTI (IMAGE)
Caption
This photograph shows four lasers at ESO’s Paranal Observatory, each one launched from one of the four eight-metre telescopes on site. The launch of these lasers represents a significant milestone for ESO’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI), which combines light from these eight-metre telescopes, and the GRAVITY+ project — a large and complex upgrade to the VLTI. With the installation of a laser at each of the eight-metre telescopes, a bright ‘fake’ star is created 90 km above Earth’s surface by each laser, enabling the correction of atmospheric blur anywhere on the sky. This unlocks the whole southern sky to the VLTI and enhances the observing power dramatically.
This long-exposure photograph was taken in early November by ESO astronomer Anthony Berdeu on a nearly full-moon night. The moon is visible on the left of the image.
Credit
A. Berdeu/ESO
Usage Restrictions
Credit must be given to the creator.
License
CC BY