Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Very Large Telescope
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Aerial view of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) observatory, Chile. Interior view of Antu, one of four 8.2-metre telescopes at the European Southern Observatory's (ESO's) Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Paranal, Chile. Yepun telescope, part of the European Southern Observatory's (ESO's) Very Large Telescope (VLT), observing the centre of the Milky Way, using the laser guide star facility. Betelgeuse during dimming event brown dwarf 2MASSWJ 1207334−393254
Quizzes
View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).
Astronomy and Space Quiz
Read Next
Space race (1957-1969) infographic between United States (U.S.) and Russia. America, Soviet Union, U.S.S.R., space exploration
Timeline of the Space Race, 1957–69
July, 2006, Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-121. See attached for full caption information.
Will Light-Speed Space Travel Ever Be Possible?
Infinite space background with silhouette of telescope. This image elements furnished by NASA.
Telescopes: Seeing Stars
New space race infographic between China, India, and Japan. Asian space race, space exploration
The New Space Race
The Space Shuttle Columbia soars from Launch Pad 39A on July 1 1997 to begin the 16-day STS-94 Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission.
12 Questions About the History of Space Exploration Answered
Discover
Space race (1957-1969) infographic between United States (U.S.) and Russia. America, Soviet Union, U.S.S.R., space exploration
Timeline of the Space Race, 1957–69
Statue of Nostradamus
Nostradamus and His Prophecies
Mona Lisa, oil on wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503-06; in the Louvre, Paris, France. 77 x 53 cm.
Why Is the Mona Lisa So Famous?
NBA Lakers Celtics Finals Kevin Garnett shooting.
10 Great Sports Rivalries
Submerged sperm whale off east Sri Lanka coast, mammal
How Did the Sperm Whale Get Its Name?
The Colosseum, Rome, Italy. Giant amphitheatre built in Rome under the Flavian emperors. (ancient architecture; architectural ruins)
New Seven Wonders of the World
Figure 13: A Maxim machine gun, belt-fed and water-cooled, operated by German infantrymen, World War I.
7 Deadliest Weapons in History

Very Large Telescope: Related Content

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/facts/Very-Large-Telescope
Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Polar-orbiting planet discovered in a binary star system • Apr. 22, 2025, 7:25 AM ET (Le Monde)

Photos

Aerial view of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) observatory, Chile.
Interior view of Antu, one of four 8.2-metre telescopes at the European Southern Observatory's (ESO's) Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Paranal, Chile.
Yepun telescope, part of the European Southern Observatory's (ESO's) Very Large Telescope (VLT), observing the centre of the Milky Way, using the laser guide star facility.
Betelgeuse during dimming event
brown dwarf 2MASSWJ 1207334−393254
See All Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).
Astronomy and Space Quiz