Excessive atop the arid plateaus of Chile’s Atacama Desert, one in all humanity’s strongest astronomical devices friends into the depths of the cosmos: the Very Massive Telescope (VLT). Operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the VLT has lengthy been on the forefront of astronomical discovery, as scientists use its cutting-edge know-how to discover distant galaxies, and a few, like our personal Milky Means, which are nearer to dwelling.
What’s it?
The place is it?
The VLT relies within the Andes Mountains within the Atacama Desert.
Why is it superb?
Airglow is extremely faint, and invisible in most elements of the world due to widespread gentle air pollution. Solely in a few of Earth’s darkest locations, such because the Atacama Desert, can this pure radiance be seen. It’s exactly these circumstances that make the VLT’s web site the most effective observing places on the planet.
Astronomers are more and more involved that even distant observatories just like the VLT could in the future face the creeping glow of synthetic gentle. City enlargement, satellite tv for pc constellations and industrial growth all threaten to erode the pure darkness that makes websites just like the Atacama Desert invaluable. Defending these uncommon darkness sanctuaries just isn’t solely an environmental subject, however a scientific and tradition one.
Wish to study extra?
You may study extra concerning the Very Massive Telescope and ground-based telescopes.
