La Silla Observatory's Telescope

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Chile is home to many traditions, foods, experiences and mysteries. But one of Chile’s greatest attractions is its view of the stars, from La Silla Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (owned by
European Southern Observatory.)
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Very Large Telescope at La Silla Observatory is actually more than just one telescope. Four
“Unit Telescopes” work together to provide extremely high-resolution images of the cosmos.
The scopes have large lenses for gathering light, at 8.2 meters across. These scopes have been
“...named Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun for the Sun, the Moon, the Southern Cross, and
Venus in the language of the Mapuche people.” (Gregersen) Working with these scopes are four smaller “Auxiliary Scopes” with diameters of 1.8 meters. These eight …show more content…

(Gregersen)
TECHNICAL SPECIFICS

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The Very Large Telescope is more than just lenses and mirrors. In order for its four 8.2 meter lenses to gather enough light, the environment has to be perfect. The telescope is located at an altitude of 2635 meters, providing excellent views of space due to the lessened atmospheric interference. (VLT) To make sure that the telescope produces the most accurate images, the mirrors are thoroughly cleaned every 18 months. This cleaning involves removing the aluminum from the mirrors and recoating the mirrors. The amount of aluminum used is about 12 grams
(less than a soda can), and when spread over the mirrors produces a layer of the material 80 nanometers thick. (European Southern Observatory) The lenses of the scope have to be near- perfect in every way. Even the slightest bump in the glass can cause warped images to appear, which is why the lenses were constructed with such skill that if they were scaled to the size of the Earth, the largest imperfection would be no larger than a pebble. (
COST OF ASSEMBLY AND REGULAR

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